LIFT As We Climb: Supporting Parents & Caregivers in National Service

City Year Member Kelly Romero and her son pose at her graduation from American University

Earlier this year, The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund announced $25.8 million in multiyear investments in five transformative projects focused on collaborative approaches to increasing economic mobility and wealth building. We are excited to share with you a special feature on one of these projects - LIFT As We Climb - a partnership between City Year DC and LIFT DC to provide a robust set of services and supports to create an opportunity pathway for local parents and caregivers participating in AmeriCorps.

Not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes they wear red jackets – at least that’s what Kelly Romero feels sometimes, as she sports her ‘City Year’ jacket through the halls of Kelly Miller MS in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of NE DC.

“Everyday I come to school, I get to show up for people,” Romero shares. “I feel like the work that I do is really making a difference – especially for these kids that really need someone who believes in them.”

Romero is one of 140 City Year AmeriCorps members working to support the learning, social, and emotional growth of thousands of kids across DC’s public schools.

While City Year members’ experiences may differ from their peers serving abroad, their impact cannot be understated – especially in communities experiencing high poverty, where schools – and their students – are often underfunded and under resourced. Statistics have shown that City Year’s members have a significant impact on the academic, social, and emotional wellbeing of the students they work with.

“As City Year members, we can support students in a way that a lot of teachers can’t,” Romero shared. “We interact with students and help them create the kind of safe learning environment they need to thrive.”

But Romero is more than just a City Year Member. Romero is also a single mother to her 8-year-old son – an experience that she says has helped her a lot over the course of her experience with City Year DC.

“I became a mom when I was a junior in high school,” Romero recalled. “I was so blessed to have supportive parents and a great community program. They helped me give me the confidence and support I needed to graduate high school and pursue my dreams.” Romero received her Bachelor’s Degree from American University – the first member of her family to do so.

Empowered by her support system, Romero now goes above and beyond to provide that same support for others – starting with her son. While taking classes at American, Romero discovered that her son had a learning disability that impacted his experience at school. She decided to take it upon herself to learn more about how she could create a safe learning environment for him and advocate for his needs.

“Working with my son takes a lot of patience, sometimes,” Romero explained. “He doesn’t always know how to process his feelings – so I work with him to help him identify what he’s feeling and how we can work together to get him to where he needs to be.”

“It’s a big part of why I enjoy what I do as a City Year member,” Romero said. “There’s so many kids out there who don’t have the kind of support system that I have and that I get to provide for my son. Working with City Year, I get to be part of that system and help them grow.”

Supporting Parents & National Service

For Dr. Michael Stevens, Executive Director of City Year DC and Neils Ribeiro-Yemofio, Executive Director of LIFT-DC – individuals like Romero represent a tremendous opportunity – one that could transform the face of National Service organizations across DC and the country.

“There’s something special about an individual who chooses to serve their community --while balancing all the responsibilities that come with serving their child,” Dr. Stevens shared. “There’s nobody more patient than a parent; nobody who is better than working with kids than somebody who takes care of their own. These are individuals who really bring their whole heart – and even their future generations into the work that they do.”

“Some people look at a young parent and see them as a problem,” Ribeiro-Yemofio added. “We see them as the solution.”

Across the region and the nation, the number of individuals involved in volunteerism and national service – both formally and informally – has dropped dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many organizations – including City Year and AmeriCorps – are increasingly looking for innovative solutions to help recruit and retain volunteers – especially for communities of color.

According to the latest AmeriCorps member report, Black AmeriCorps members have the highest early exit/attrition rate (41 percent) compared to other volunteers. Of those who exit, nearly a third of them said they did so out of necessity to take care of family or seek better economic stability.

Dr. Michael Stevens (far left) early on in his career with City Year DC.

Ribeiro-Yemofio and Dr. Stevens have witnessed firsthand the impact that completing a term of national service can have on an individual’s life. As a young man growing up in Alexandria, Ribeiro-Yemofio joined City Year originally with the intention of quitting after just six months to pursue a career in advocacy. However, he quickly realized just how transformative his time at City Year could be. Ten years later, Ribeiro-Yemofio was still working with City Year – this time as an employee – reporting to his former team lead – Dr. Michael Stevens.

Neils Ribeiro-Yomofrio as a member of City Year DC

Now as the Executive Director of LIFT DC –a nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by investing in parents – Ribeiro-Yemofio is excited to partner with Dr. Stevens to create LIFT as We Climb -- an innovative program funded by The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund that will support parents and caregivers in national service.

“A lot of City Year members who are parents are unable to finish their service because they don’t have the kind of support structure they need to succeed,” Ribeiro-Yemofio shared.

“LIFT DC not only has the expertise, but also the infrastructure to help members grow and thrive – during their service and beyond.”

LIFT as We Climb – A Bridge to Opportunity  

As part of LIFT as We Climb, City Year Members like Romero will be paired with a LIFT-DC coach who will work with parents to identify and achieve their personal and financial goals. Each member will have access to financial literacy workshops, unrestricted $150 cash payments every three months for the duration of the program, and a $500 cash payment to help their transition after completing their service.

“At LIFT, we have an excellent track record of helping our parents reach economic mobility,” Ribeiro-Yemofio added. “Some have increased their annual household income by an average of $35,664 over the course of their time with us.”

LIFT as We Climb is designed as a two-year program – ensuring that even if parents decide not to pursue careers in national service after completing their year of service, they are still able to receive coaching and support as they transition. Throughout the program, members will have access to group sessions, workshops, and events with other parents to help them continue to grow and expand their networks.

“I would love to see that young parents see City Year – or any type of service organization – as a viable career, or a launch pad into a career of social impact,” Dr. Stevens shared of his aspirations for the project. “Instead of young parents seeing all the reasons why they can’t or shouldn’t serve – we want them to see the benefits and the impact that they can have on future generations.”

Dr. Stevens and Ribeiro-Yemofio say they anticipate the project will not only help with retention rates for existing volunteers, but also recruitment for new volunteers, as well. They plan to use the projects outcomes to make the case for broader support at the national level at their respective organizations and to AmeriCorps. City Year DC and LIFT DC both belong to large, well-established national networks. LIFT as We Climb is the first project of its kind in either network to provide a support system for parents in national service.

“Martin Luther King once said ‘Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve,’” Ribeiro-Yemofio said. “That’s what we hope to do with LIFT as We Climb – provide a support structure so that everyone – including parents – have what they need to serve and become great!”

The Community Foundation is proud to support LIFT as We Climb and its work through the Health Equity Fund.

The Health Equity Fund was created to improve the health outcomes and health equity of DC residents. The fund is governed by a seven-member Health Equity Committee in partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation. The seven-member committee includes Nnemdi Elias, MD, MPH; Dr. Tollie Elliott; Wendell L. Johns; Lori Kaplan; Juan M. Jara; Kimberly Harris; and Courtney R. Snowden.

For more information about the Health Equity Fund and available funding opportunities, please visit our website!

Dr. George Leventhal & Kaiser Permanente - Tackling the Medical Respite Gap for the Region's Homeless Population

The Community Foundation is excited to continue our Leaders of the Future series, highlighting the work and experiences of incredible individuals and organizations from across our community of philanthropic, community, professional advisor, corporate, and nonprofit partners.

In honor of National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, we’re pleased to feature Dr. George L. Leventhal, Director of Community Health at Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Leventhal is a long-time regional advocate in the fight against homelessness and sits on the Leadership Council of the Partnership to End Homelessness.

Homelessness has been described as a public health crisis. Research done by the National Alliance to End Homelessness found that individuals within the homeless population often experience conditions of diabetes, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS at rates that are three to six times higher than that of the general population. Additional data from the most recent Point in Time Count found that the majority of single adults experiencing homelessness are over the age of 55.

These statistics paint a sobering picture during the warm summer months. However, as winter approaches and the temperatures drop, that picture becomes deadly.

“Homelessness is a public health catastrophe,” shared Dr. George L. Leventhal, Director of Community Health at Kaiser Permanente. “Living unsheltered is terrible for the body. Those that sleep on the street are often unable to get a good night’s rest. That impacts their mental health. They’re also exposed to stress factors which impact their body’s ability to fight infection.”

Dr. Leventhal with members of the Partnership to End Homelessness Leadership Council visit with the staff of Joseph’s House – one of just four medical respite sites located in DC.

Dr. Leventhal has been involved in the regional homelessness sphere for more than two decades, serving on the Montgomery County Council and chairing the Council’s Health & Human Services Committee from 2002 to 2018. He also served on the Council’s Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee and played a key role in the Montgomery County’s efforts to end homelessness in one of Maryland’s most populous counties.

Now as the Director of Community Health at Kaiser Permanente and a member of the Partnership to End Homelessness Leadership Council, Dr. Leventhal is taking aim at another critical issue – Medical Respite Centers.

Along with the Partnership to End Homelessness’ Leadership Council, Kaiser has identified Medical Respite as a key priority in the fight to end homelessness. “Medical respite centers are places where someone who has been discharged from hospital can take time to rest and recover before returning to their everyday routine,” Dr. Leventhal explained. “While most of us can do that at home, those experiencing homelessness don’t have access to that kind of environment – and are more likely to need to go to the emergency room and be readmitted after hospitalization.”

According to the National Institute for Medical Respite Centers, there are only 145 Medical Respite programs across the United States. Of those, only eleven of those are located in the DMV – two in Maryland, five in Virginia, and four in DC.

Medical respite beds at Joseph's House - one of the four locations offering medical respite care for individuals suffering from HIV, cancer, and homelessness in DC.

“The average medical respite center has about 16 beds,” Dr. Leventhal explained. “Considering there are nearly 10,000 people experiencing homelessness in the DMV right now – that’s not even a drop in the bucket.”

For Dr. Leventhal and Kaiser Permanente, the issue is both a public health issue and a public cost issue. Not only are hospital readmittances damaging for a patient’s health – they are also extremely costly for the patient, the hospital, and health care providers. A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that the average cost of a hospital stay in DC was $3,974 – per day.

“It’s in our best interest as healthcare providers to ensure that everyone has access to the care and services they need to stay healthy,” Dr. Leventhal added. “That’s why Kaiser Permanente is committed to bringing more Respite Centers to the DMV.”

Kaiser Permanente is working with Volunteers of America Chesapeake and Carolinas, along with an advisory board including hospitals, local government, and nonprofit service provides, to open a Medical Respite Center in Prince George’s County. If successful, the center would be the first in the county.

The project - which is still in the early phases of development - could also potentially ease the pressure on service providers in DC, which sometimes provide services for individuals experiencing homelessness coming to the District from neighboring counties.

“One of the biggest obstacles is that there is no clear language in Maryland or DC’s Medicaid regulations that indicates that medical respite services are billable to Medicaid – meaning that charities operating these centers struggle to cover the cost,” Dr. Leventhal shared. “While some things – like PSH (permanent supportive housing) - are clearly defined and covered – medical respite isn’t.”

As Dr. Leventhal and Kaiser Permanente navigate the logistics of this exciting new project, The Partnership to End Homelessness has served as an important resource and facilitator. In November, Dr. Leventhal joined other Leadership Council members for a site visit at Joseph’s House – one of the four locations offering medical respite care for individuals suffering from HIV, cancer, and homelessness in DC.

“The Partnership to End Homelessness is a great way to get connected with the work that is being done to end homelessness in DC,” Dr. Leventhal shared. “It’s encouraging to know that we are all working to make sure everyone has access to the services and care that they need.”

The Community Foundation is proud to partner with Dr. George Leventhal, Kaiser Permanente and other incredible community, corporate and philanthropic leaders on our Partnership to End Homelessness Leadership Council. For more information about how you or your organization can get involved, contact Jennifer Olney, Senior Program Officer for the Partnership to End Homelessness.

Martha's Table Community Impact Fund: Building Capacity and Community for Ward 8 Nonprofits

The Community Foundation is excited to continue our Leaders of the Future series, highlighting the work and experiences of incredible individuals and organizations from across our community of philanthropic, community, professional advisor, corporate, and nonprofit partners.

In 2022, The Community Foundation partnered with Martha’s Table to facilitate their Community Impact Fund, a community-led grant program designed to support and strengthen Ward 8 nonprofits–specifically those who have historically been excluded from institutional philanthropy and whose leadership and staff reflect the demographic composition and lived experiences of the communities they serve.

Josephine Mazyck, Executive Director of FAN DC

 When asked about the biggest challenges facing her organization, Josephine Mazyck, Executive Director of Fihankra Akoma Ntosaso (FAN DC), immediately responded with a single word–“Funding.”

Affectionately known as “Ms. Jojo”, Mazyck has been at the helm of FAN DC– a Ward 8-based nonprofit dedicated to providing positive youth development programs for foster care youth and their families–since 2019. Under her leadership, FAN DC – which celebrates its 20th Anniversary next year– has expanded its services to meet critical community needs, including a community food pantry that serves over 18,000 annual meals and a growing program to support parents and caregivers

However, as most nonprofit leaders know, those growing programs come at a cost – one which usually falls heaviest on the Executive Director.

“Work-life balance can be a struggle,” Mazyck shared. “Even though we’ve been around for twenty years, we’re still a small grassroots organization. That means it falls to me to do a lot of the development and fundraising to keep programs running.”

While Mazyck’s experience may not be unique to many nonprofit leaders, it is acutely felt by those operating in Ward 8–a community that historically has received less investment from institutional and philanthropic partners, while at the same time providing increasingly critical services to thousands of residents.

Community Investment Fund – Building Bridges Through Grant making

“For decades, organizations based in Ward 8 simply haven’t had the same access to traditional funding or support,” Douglas Ireland, Chief Program Officer at Martha’s Table shared.

Established in 1980, Martha’s Table has been working to advance equity in DC for nearly 45 years. In 2018, the organization made the bold decision to relocate from its home on 14th Street, NW to Ward 8.

Shortly after the move–and in the midst of the pandemic–Martha’s Table held listening sessions with more than 1,000 community members to identify their neighbors' needs and center the voices of the community in the organization’s strategic planning.

 “One of the most common themes that was brought up was the need for direct community investments to help grassroots organizations build capacity,” Ireland continued. “There was a lot of uncertainty about the impact that Martha’s Table’s presence in the community would have on their ability to continue to do the work and get the funding they needed. That’s part of the reason why Martha’s Table felt so strongly about the need to establish the Community Impact Fund.”

In 2022, Martha’s Table partnered with The Community Foundation to launch the Community Impact Fund, a grant program to support and strengthen organizations in Ward 8 that have been historically excluded from institutional philanthropy.

Eligible organizations must be based in Ward 8 with an operating budget of under $1 million.

To ensure the grants meet the needs and interests of Ward 8, all applications are reviewed by an independent review committee–facilitated by The Community Foundation–made up of volunteers who live or work in Ward 8.

“Community-based grant making is one of the best ways to connect philanthropy to impact,” shared Ben Murphy, Director of Fund Administration & Special Projects for The Community Foundation. “It’s more than just disbursing funds; it’s a learning process that requires you to listen to recognize community voices and then work together to address community needs.”

“Working with The Community Foundation and the grantees has been truly inspiring,” Charlie Gussom, Director of Community Programs, shared of the process. “We learn so much about our community and its needs each time we meet. Those insights have been critical not only for the grant making, but also as we’ve worked to adapt our programming and services to better meet those needs.”

Since the launch of the Community Impact Fund, Martha’s Table has awarded nearly $1 million in funding to 34 organizations in Ward 8. The fund recently announced its latest round of nonprofit partners.

 The grants have already made a significant impact for nonprofit partners–most of whom have less than five full-time employees and a meager operating budget to support all that they do in the community.

FAN DC’s Community Food Pantry

For nonprofit leaders like Mazyck, the grant allowed her to position her organization for success by investing in much-needed development support.

“Thanks to the Martha’s Table grant, we were able to secure grant-writing support for three months,” Mazyck shared. “Not only did they help us find prospects and write proposals, they helped us create an organizational overview that we could use as a starting template for future funding requests.”

Thanks to the extra development support, Mazyck was also able to spend more time brainstorming and engaging in high-level strategic planning outside of the day-to-day needs–focusing on FAN DC’s sustainability, including its long-term Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and better plan for the future.

“The support means a lot to me,” Mazyck shared. “Having the bandwidth to think about organizational sustainability makes me hopeful that FAN DC can continue to serve Ward 8 for another 20 years and beyond.”

Building Capacity & Community

In addition to providing nonprofit partners with funding, the Community Impact Fund has also provided partners with additional opportunities for training, networking, and collaboration. Last year, Martha’s Table began partnering with the Center for Nonprofit Advancement to help grantee organizations develop best practices in communications and other administrative processes. This year, they are adding initiatives to support the mental and emotional health of nonprofit leaders. They’ve also opened up their headquarters as a venue for partner events and community activities. 

“A lot of organizations in Ward 8 work in silos,” shared Gussom. “Our partnerships through the Community Impact Fund have allowed us to build new relationships across our community, bring people together, and align our services with the work that is already being done.”

A Youth Volunteer with FAN DC gets ready to help out at the Joyful Food Market

Staff Volunteers with Martha’s Table help assemble new furniture for FAN DC’s meeting space

For FAN DC, Martha’s Table has become a valuable partner, providing food and fresh produce for the organization’s busy community pantry and annual Radical Wellness Fair. It’s also provided a great service opportunity for youth to volunteer at Martha’s Table’s Joyful Food Market. Continuing their partnership, earlier this year, Martha’s Table refurbished FAN DC’s meeting space, as part of their annual MLK Day of Service Project– providing a more welcoming atmosphere for foster youth participating in the program.

“Collaborating with Martha’s Table has really helped us so much,” Mazyck shared. “Aside from partnering on programming, we’ve been able to tap into their network and get connected to partnerships and funding opportunities that will help us take our programming to the next level.”

The Community Foundation is proud to support Martha’s Table’s Community Impact Fund. For more information about the fund, visit www.marthastable.org/communityimpactfund

If your organization is interested in giving back to the community through an Impact Fund, contact Benton Murphy, Director of Fund Administration & Special Projects at bmurphy@thecommunityfoundation.org

Greater Washington Community Foundation Celebrates $26 Million Investment in Innovative DC Health Equity Partnerships

The Health Equity Fund at the Greater Washington Community Foundation has announced $25.8 million in multiyear investments in five transformative projects focused on collaborative approaches to increasing economic mobility and wealth building.

The investments will support twelve nonprofit organizations working collaboratively over a multi-year period to advance health equity and create better outcomes for DC residents.

“Investing in bold, disruptive nonprofit innovations is a critical component of the Health Equity Fund,” said Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “Our hope is that these strategic investments will provide a blueprint for sustainable systems change across our region as we work with our partners to scale evidence-based strategies that build wealth for people and communities with the greatest economic and health disparities.”

“At CareFirst, we understand that health is shaped by factors outside of clinical settings. That's why we are dedicated to supporting local organizations that are working to reduce health disparities and promote equity," said Brian D. Pieninck, President and CEO of CareFirst. "The Health Equity Fund, in collaboration with the District, exemplifies our commitment to addressing the social drivers of health impacting individuals and communities in Washington, DC. With this latest round of grants, we aim to empower these organizations to continue their essential work, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy life, regardless of their socioeconomic status."

Given that 80 percent of DC’s health outcomes are driven by social, economic, and other factors, compared to just 20 percent by clinical care, the Health Equity Fund adopts an economic mobility frame to address the root causes of health disparities in the District. Its strategy is designed to achieve health equity for all DC residents by addressing the social and structural determinants of health that impact health outcomes including education, employment, income, housing, transportation, nutrition, environmental safety, medical care, culture and recreation, and more.

The $95 million Health Equity Fund is one of the largest philanthropic funds of any kind focused on community-based nonprofits that serve District residents. Since 2022, the Fund has distributed more than $58.9 million with a focus on programs that increase economic mobility and wealth building, advance health advocacy, policy, and systems change initiatives, and support community-based strategies to prevent gun violence and increase public safety.

"This Health Equity Fund award represents an innovative advancement in our mission to foster economic mobility and wealth building. By channeling resources into projects that prioritize these goals, we are directly supporting Mayor Bowser's vision to empower District residents and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed,” said Karima Woods, Commissioner for the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking.

The projects were reviewed and selected by Community Foundation staff, external reviewers with subject matter expertise, and members of the Health Equity Committee. Two of the projects – Sustainable DC and the NorthStar Institute – received funding starting in July. The selected projects include:

The Pathway to Economic Mobility, Prosperity & FAmily Wellness

DC Action, Early Childhood Innovation Network (ECIN), and CityFirst Bank are partnering to implement a two-generation cash transfer program that will invest in the well-being and economic development of both parents and children in participating families.

The program will provide 100 low-to-moderate income families facing housing insecurity with unconditional monthly cash payments of $1,000 over two years. Each participating parent will also receive $1,000 towards an IRA, an emergency savings account, financial empowerment coaching and savings incentives to help them navigate the financial system and achieve their wealth-building goals.

In addition, each participating child will receive $1,000 towards a DC 529 College Savings Account and an additional $1,000 towards a ROTH IRA. Each family will also receive a $25,000 Children’s Trust Account that can be used to support their children’s future professional, educational, and personal goals.

Lift as we climb

City Year DC and LIFT DC have partnered to provide a robust set of services and supports to create an opportunity pathway for local parents and caregivers participating in AmeriCorps. The project will demonstrate how additional resources in the form of coaching, monetary assistance, and wraparound supports can better retain caregivers in AmeriCorps and support their successful transition out of AmeriCorps into living-wage careers. It will also provide valuable insights that LIFT and City Year will share with AmeriCorps, to make the case for additional investment in parents and caregivers, on a national scale.

Elevating Black Fatherhood: Brighter Futures for Children, Families, & Communities

United Way of the National Capital Area (United Way NCA) and the Greater Washington Urban League have partnered on a 2-year demonstration project that will provide new comprehensive services for 150 DC fathers with child support arrears through the United Way NCA’s Financial Empowerment Center. Program participants will receive ongoing support and resources to regain their financial footing, catch up on child support arrears, build stronger familial bonds, and strengthen social and emotional wellbeing for themselves and their families. The project will also provide data to combat false narratives about the role of Black fathers and provide a blueprint for systemic support structures that can better serve Black men and their families.

Sustainable DC

Washington Area Community Investment Fund and the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development have partnered on a 3-year strategy to help BIPOC and women-owned small businesses grow and build resilience while combating climate change, by participating in the region’s burgeoning green economy. The project will help small businesses implement sustainable practices by offering 1,000 entrepreneurs with access to flexible capital through a mix of grants and loans, capacity building and technical assistance, and one-on-one business advising and group training. Entrepreneurs will participate in new accelerator programs tailored for green economy businesses and designed to connect businesses with sustainability-focused procurement opportunities with DC area anchor institutions.

NorthStar Institute

NorthStar Institute, Academy of Hope, and the LAYC Career Academy have partnered on a 3-year integrated program for 2,500 students who are asset-limited, income-constrained, and also employed (A.L.I.C.E.) to set them on a path to financial independence. The program will offer high-quality education and job training for adult learners to pursue industry credentials and career advancement, combined with courses on Financial Well-Being and Money Management. Participants will receive dedicated access to a wealth advisor and financial planner for expert advice and guidance on homeownership, entrepreneurship, savings, investments, and legacy planning. The program will provide additional cash assistance to ensure participants can achieve their goals of savings, homeownership, business startup or investment capital.

For more information about the Health Equity Fund, visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org/health-equity-fund.

Partnership to End Homelessness Celebrates Five Years of Impact

The Partnership to End Homelessness launched in June 2019 with a bold vision to bring together the public and private sectors to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring in DC.

We are pleased to report that with your support, Homelessness in DC has decreased by 12 percent since 2020. With your investments, the Partnership has contributed to this progress by funding critical advocacy to secure public funding, supporting our nonprofit partners on the ground, and making strategic investments in systems to make it possible for us to exit more people from homelessness.

However, we know that much more must be done to ensure everyone has housing they can afford. Despite record numbers of people exiting homelessness in recent years, we are seeing a growing number of people seeking help. Nearly 1 in every 120 DC residents experience homelessness on any given night in neighborhoods across the city. 75% of DC’s lowest-income households live in housing they can’t afford. Community members report growing concerns about economic insecurity and income inequality in our region, and the end of pandemic supports mean more people are at risk of housing instability and homelessness.

At its launch, the Partnership set four goals:

1. Increase the supply of affordable housing with a priority on extremely low-income households;

2. Build nonprofit capacity to help single adults, families, and youth exit homelessness as quickly as possible;

3. Change perceptions about homelessness and affordable housing through donor education, community engagement, and advocacy efforts; and

4. Leverage private philanthropy and align with public resources and strategies, leading to more nimble, strategic, and sustained investment in the homeless services system.

The Community Foundation conducted a review of the Partnership this summer to evaluate the impact it has made on our community during its first five years. This included an analysis of our progress against these goals, outcomes, and financial data, and interviews with a cross-section of key community stakeholders in the Partnership, including nonprofit grantees, government leaders, Community Foundation staff, Leadership Council members, and funders. Here are some of our key findings:

• The Partnership has successfully leveraged and aligned nearly $20 million in funding to support its priorities through investments in affordable housing and grantmaking to nonprofits.

• The Partnership has increased the supply of affordable housing in our area, helping to build and preserve 924 homes for low-income individuals and families.

• The Partnership has supported advocacy to increase the supply of affordable housing and provide permanent supportive housing vouchers that helped 3,254 individuals and 1,542 families exit homelessness. Over $1 billion in public investments for homelessness and affordable housing priorities has been made by DC in the last five years. The Partnership participated in advocacy for this funding through grantmaking to local advocacy organizations and through direct advocacy with the Mayor and City Council.

• Our community believes that the Partnership plays a unique and valuable role, and that it could be made even more effective by raising additional funding from foundations, corporations, and individual donors so it can increase its investments in improving local systems and in building and preserving deeply affordable housing. Stakeholders also urged the Partnership to continue to convene private and public sector stakeholders to solve community challenges, and to do more to change the narrative around homelessness.

As the Partnership looks forward to 2025, it will be focusing on funding critical efforts to expedite housing placements for people experiencing chronic homelessness and to improve care coordination between healthcare and homeless services systems.

We invite you to join us by making a contribution to the Partnership to End Homelessness, or by contacting  Jennifer Olney at jolney@thecommunityfoundation.org to learn more about how you can get involved.

Stronger Together - Our Commitment To Greater Washington

This week, we reaffirm our commitment to the values that have guided the Greater Washington Community Foundation for over 50 years as we work to strengthen our region. Our work has endured through many changes in political leadership, and each transition brings its own impact to our community. In these times, we stay true to our purpose— to build racially equitable, just, and thriving communities so that people of all races, places, and identities can reach their full potential.

As your community foundation, we believe in the power of community and stand in solidarity with our partners working to help the most vulnerable or marginalized among us. We reaffirm our commitment to actively listening to our community to ensure their needs and experiences guide our work. We pledge to actively deploy our resources, voice, and efforts to build a stronger, more inclusive, and resilient region where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Washington, DC, is not only the capital of our democracy but also a vibrant community of individuals dedicated to strengthening our shared future. By working together, we have the power and the potential for creating deeper, more lasting impact toward achieving economic justice and prosperity for all. 

Permanent Supportive Housing -- A Smart Investment Towards Ending Homelessness in DC

Every person deserves the dignity of a home. Yet, DC has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the country, and nearly half of individuals that are unhoused are experiencing “chronic homelessness.” Chronic homelessness is the condition of being homeless for a year or more, or repeatedly, while struggling with a disabling condition such as a serious physical and mental illness.

The Partnership to End Homelessness believes that DC can end chronic homelessness. However, ending chronic homelessness is not possible without a robust homeless service system and providers that can support households experiencing chronic homelessness.

Permanent Supportive Housing - A Solution to Homelessness
The Partnership has invested in multiple projects to advance the work to end chronic homelessness, focusing on Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). PSH is a proven solution that pairs housing with wrap-around services to help those experiencing chronic homelessness not only obtain affordable housing, but also maintain it long-term.

The Partnership has taken an active roll in supporting advocacy efforts to secure historic investments in PSH in the District. Together with our partners DC has secured over 4,000 new PSH vouchers that helped 3,254 individuals and 1,542 families exit homelessness. This funding had a direct impact on the city’s ability to end homelessness and has, in part, led to a 12% decrease in homelessness since 2020.

Investing in Systems Change for Supportive Housing
Securing investment for PSH is only part of the equation. Equally as critical is the need to invest in the housing infrastructure – specifically service providers and advocates who are working to ensure that PSH funding reaches those who need it the most.

To that end, The Partnership has joined with other funders including The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation and The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation to help Permanent Supportive Housing providers improve their systems and processes to access the city’s new expanded Medicaid benefit through the Corporation for Supportive Housing.

During this process, we’ve heard from service providers about some of their most persistent ongoing challenges. These challenges included maintaining quality in service delivery amidst increased administrative responsibility, hiring challenges, lack of training and onboarding for new case managers, and inadequate coordination between service providers. 

Additionally, service providers mentioned how unrealistically heavy caseloads for PSH case managers and staffing retention challenges due to the high burnout rate pose serious obstacles to their organizational stability as they work to support people experiencing chronic homelessness and help them move into available housing.

The Future of PSH

The Partnership to End Homelessness recognizes the importance of continuing to build the capacity of the PSH system and of our PSH providers.

In 2023, DCFPI released a landmark report, funded in part by the Partnership, that outlines specific recommendations for ending chronic homelessness and specifically for strengthening case management. The report’s recommendations – which were informed by frontline providers and people with lived experience of homelessness included the need to speed up the housing process and to strengthen case management services.

In addition to the report, the Partnership has also heard other ideas for innovation through our partnership with the Corporation for Supportive Housing who supported work to expand Medicaid benefits.

Over the next years, the Partnership will continue to bring together PSH providers to identify high impact innovation opportunities and pilot these ideas. By investing in innovative ideas informed by providers, case managers, and people with lived experience, we will identify impactful and scalable opportunities that sustain and accelerate our progress toward ending chronic homelessness in DC.

Unlocking the Power of Guaranteed Income in the DMV

Earlier this month, The Community Foundation gathered with guaranteed income advocates from across the region to discuss how to amplify the effects of guaranteed income pilots in the Greater Washington region.

“At The Community Foundation, we believe that guaranteed income is one of the best ways that we can combat poverty with dignity” The Community Foundation’s President & CEO Tonia Wellons shared. “That’s why we’re so excited to convene so many incredible changemakers in this space and discuss how we can continue this work in our region!”

The meeting brought together representatives from nine different guaranteed income across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, including Bread for the City’s Cash Rx, Arlington Community Foundation’s Arlington’s Guarantee, City of Alexandria’s ARISE, iF, a Foundation for Radical Possibility’s Let’s GO DMV!, My Sister’s Place’s RISE Trust, Fairfax County Economic Mobility Pilot, Montgomery County’s MoCoBoost, Mothers Outreach Network’s MotherUp, and The Community Foundation’s Thrive Prince George’s.

A graphic captured by Belinda Jackson at Picture it Possible, showcases the various guaranteed income pilots that attended the convening.

“We’ve seen the impact that guaranteed income has had across the country,” shared Mandi Koba, Program Officer for Economic Mobility at The Community Foundation. “Now we have a chance to explore the impact that it has had – and will hopefully continue to have in the DMV!”

Nationally, there are more than 150 guaranteed income pilots that are currently active or recently concluded – including at least 12 different pilots in Greater Washington region.

Mary Bogle, Principal Research Associate at the Urban Institute provides an overview of guaranteed income pilots across the country.

During the event, representatives had the chance to network with peers from across the region and share best practices. They also heard a presentation from Mary Bogle, Principal Research Associate at the Urban Institute about guaranteed income pilot best practices and trends, nationally. Bogle and her team at Urban have provided research and evaluation for guaranteed income pilots across the country and the region.

“The socioeconomic impact of guaranteed income is clearly positive,” Bogle shared. “What we need is to continue to research and advocate for more funding so we can discover the scope and scale of that impact for our community.”

After Bogle’s presentation, representatives were divided into break-out groups to discuss various themes relative to guaranteed income work including Narrative Building, How to go from Pilot to Policy, and ‘Failing Forward: Best Practices for Project Implementation.

A graphic captured by Belinda Jackson at Picture it Possible, highlights the main takeaways discussed in each of the various break-out groups.

In the “Failing Forward” group, participants talked about the importance of working with funders to build relationships of trust in order to communicate outcomes and impact within a realistic, holistic lens – but also to be innovative in the types of outcomes they measure – outcomes like improved mental health or increased time spent with children that may fall outside traditional benchmarks for programmatic success

Meanwhile, the Narrative Building group discussed the importance of storytelling and narrative building in painting an accurate picture of the impact of guaranteed income initiatives.

“Welfare queens, ‘Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps’ – there are so many negative narratives out there that don’t accurately represent the realities faced by those we serve,” shared one representative. “As we work with our participants to empower them to share their own stories, we are able to elevate narratives of dignity and community that are the backbone of this work.”

Finally, the pilot to policy group discussed ways to leverage narrative building and evaluation findings to plan for the future – by advocating for funding and policy to continue their efforts at scale.

Across the board, partners expressed the need to continue to collaborate across jurisdictions to share information, combat false narratives, and continue to advocate for funding and support across the region.

“Collaboration and partnership is the key to bringing about lasting and sustainable change,” Wellons added. “We look forward to continuing to partner with all of you, as we work together to promote economic mobility in the Greater Washington region.”

The Community Foundation is committed to continuing to invest in, advocate for, and support the progression of guaranteed income pilot programs across the Greater Washington region. For more information, visit https://www.thecommunityfoundation.org/guaranteed-income

Greater Washington Community Foundation Announces $10 Million in Grants to Foster Economic Mobility in DC

The Health Equity Fund at the Greater Washington Community Foundation has announced $10 million in multiyear funding to support important projects that foster economic mobility in Washington, DC. The grants will support 40 DC-serving nonprofit organizations – the largest funding cohort supported by the fund since its launch in 2022.

Given that 80 percent of DC’s health outcomes are driven by social, economic, and other factors, compared to just 20 percent by clinical care, the Health Equity Fund adopts an economic mobility frame to address the root causes of health disparities in the District.

Since 2022, the Fund has distributed more than $51.3 million with a focus on programs that increase economic mobility and wealth building, advance health advocacy, policy, and systems change initiatives, and support community-based strategies to prevent gun violence and increase public safety.

“We believe that achieving health equity requires more than improving individual health outcomes and expanding access to services,” said Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “We must disrupt the societal factors shaped by centuries of laws, public policies, and practices that have worked together to produce the disparate outcomes we see today.”

“Building an equitable and prosperous Washington, DC means tackling health inequities at their core and creating strong pathways to opportunity so that everyone has a fair shot at leading their healthiest lives,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “Our city grows stronger when we partner with organizations that address both immediate needs and long-term growth, and together, we’re ensuring more of our residents have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive for generations to come.”

“The Health Equity Fund's investment in economic mobility and wealth-building initiatives reflects a strategic approach to advance not only health outcomes but also financial stability and opportunity for our residents. This work aligns with DISB’s mission to protect and empower our most vulnerable communities, ensuring they have access to the resources needed for long-term success,” said Karima Woods, Commissioner of the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB).

A committee composed of Community Foundation staff, community members, and representatives of local foundations and think tanks reviewed proposals from eligible applicants. The 40 selected grant recipients include diverse organizations and projects, including:

• DC Public Education Fund - DCPS and DCPEF are proposing an “Earn While You Learn Model” at DCPS’s Opportunity Academies. This program will support DCPS students who choose to transition to a career after graduation by providing a combination of coaching, skill-building and certification, and direct-to-student cash payments.

• birdSEED – birdSEED will give no-strings attached grants to first time BIPOC homebuyers in Washington, DC.

• My Sister’s Place – Continued funding to provide 30 families with $500/month of guaranteed cash assistance through the RISE Trust program. The program also provides voluntary financial education and workforce development. Clients in the program are individuals and families recovering from domestic violence from underserved communities in DC.

• SpeakOut, Inc - SpeakOut’s Project Amplify is a community-driven workforce development training program that meets the unmet needs of Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals in the workplace.

• WomenPalante - Women Palante empowers 25 Latina mothers per cohort, aiming to launch at least 10 new local businesses per year.

“Our work at CareFirst has shown that forging intentional pathways to economic mobility is a key driver of improving the social drivers of health, and this fund intends to do just that, creating a thriving and more inclusive economy in the District,” said Brian D. Pieninck, President and CEO of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. “We are committed to doing this important work in partnership with the community organizations that meet individuals where they are so we can connect them to the resources and care they deserve.” 

This latest funding cohort included several returning partners from the inaugural grant round in 2022. Returning partners were asked to share impact from the previous round as part of their application process. A complete list of grant recipients is listed below.

About the Health Equity Fund

The Health Equity Fund was created to improve the health outcomes and health equity of DC residents. The fund is governed by a seven-member Health Equity Committee in partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation. The seven-member committee includes Nnemdi Elias, MD, MPH; Dr. Tollie Elliott; Wendell L. Johns; Lori Kaplan; Juan M. Jara; Kimberly Harris; and Courtney R. Snowden.

For more information about the Health Equity Fund and available funding opportunities, please visit our website! 

2024 Health Equity Fund Partners (* = Returning Partner)

• AsylumWorks*

• Ayuda, Inc.

• Beloved Community Incubator, Inc*

• birdSEED

• Building Futures

• Calvary Women Services, Inc*

• Capital Youth Empowerment Program*

• Council for Court Excellence*

• DC Affordable Law Firm*

• DC Appleseed  Center for Law & Justice

• DC Central Kitchen Inc*

• DC Jobs with Justice

• DC KinCare Alliance

• DC Public Education Fund

• Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc

• Fair Chance

• First Shift Justice Project*

• Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop*

• Generation Hope*

• Healthy Baby Project, Inc*

• Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS)*

• Many Languages One Voice

• Mi Casa My House Inc.

• My Sister’s Place*

• Network for Developing Conscious Communities

• Open City Advocates

• Organizing Neighborhood Equity*

• Rebuilding Together Alexandria

• Rising for Justice*

• ROC-DC

• RUMA Collective

• Sinai Assisted Housing Foundation

• Social Justice Public Charter School, Inc

• SpeakOut, Inc

• The Platform of Hope

• The School Justice Project Inc

• The Young Women’s Project*

• Tzedek DC, Inc*

• WomenPalante

• Yachad, Incorporated*

Meet Our Health Equity Nonprofit Partners

In October 2024, The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund announced $10 million in multiyear funding to support 40 important projects that foster economic mobility in Washington, DC.

The investment included organizations who are receiving funding from the Health Equity Fund for the first time, as well as a number of returning organizations who received funding through the inaugural Health Equity Fund grant round in September 2022. Returning partners were asked to share what they have learned and how our ongoing partnership supports the work they are doing in the community.

The Community Foundation is excited to support the work and mission of our nonprofit partners, as together we seek to build a more equitable and inclusive region.

New Nonprofit Partners

• Network for Developing Conscious Communities

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Ward 7

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  To renew and inspire collective consciousness in community development through intentional engagement that builds sustainable power in Black communities

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  Receiving funding from the Health Equity Fund is exciting because it will enable us to implement initiatives that directly address economic disparities in our communities. With this funding, we aim to develop targeted programs that promote cooperative businesses, improve cooperative business education, and foster community engagement, ultimately leading to better economic outcomes for underserved populations. We are committed to creating a sustainable impact that empowers individuals and enhances overall community economic well-being.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  I am excited about the future of our community because of the strong sense of collaboration and resilience that is emerging among residents. As more people come together to advocate for positive change and address local challenges, we are seeing innovative solutions and programs take shape. With increased access to resources, education, and opportunities for engagement, I believe we can build a healthier, more equitable community where everyone has the chance to thrive and contribute to collective growth.

• The Platform of Hope

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Columbia Heights, Adams-Morgan, Ward 1

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Our mission is to enhance the ability of families of color to define and pursue success while building community by connecting them with coaching, services and one another. Together, we amplify the experiences of DC area families and address systemic barriers to success.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  With this funding we hope to see 50% of our program families reach their self-defined financial and housing goals. We hope to see families who are striving to improve gain access to education opportunities that enable career advancement, home ownership, and overall economic mobility. We want to see families increase their social capital and be empowered to understand the systemic barriers impacting day to day success.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  I am excited about the agency and autonomy of our community. As they go through our coaching, workshops, and family centered events their voices are the key component driving the organization forward to reach new goals.

• Sinai Assisted Housing Foundation, Inc

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Sinai Assisted Housing Foundation, Inc. provides transitional housing and critical services to families experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity in Washington, DC.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Our mission is to enable families to move from homelessness to independence by providing safe and affordable housing, comprehensive social services and financial support.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  With support from the Health Equity Fund, we are excited to strengthen our focus on economic mobility by expanding our efforts in supporting families experiencing homelessness in accessing deeply affordable housing. We will also eradicate financial predation within our community through clinical financial navigation and increasing access to legal representation.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  We are excited to create space to openly discuss and address financial need without judgement, we look to a future that is free from the cycle of economic immobility and increasing wealth becomes a norm.

• School Justice Project

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  SJP serves clients throughout DC. The majority of our clients reside in Ward 8 (30%), followed by Ward 7 (16%), and clients experiencing homelessness (13%). We also currently represent or have represented clients living in Wards 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  SJP uses special education law to ensure that older, court-involved students with disabilities can access a quality education. SJP's special education attorneys work with their clients to protect and enforce special education rights. Through our individual representation and systemic advocacy programs, we aim to spark a system-wide overhaul, changing the educational landscape for older, court-involved students with special education needs who are involved in DC's juvenile and criminal legal systems.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  SJP is thrilled to receive this funding from the Health Equity Fund! We will use this funding to support hiring SJP’s first social worker, which will enable SJP to provide more holistic services. The social worker will work closely with our clients in the community to access stable health and mental healthcare to allow our clients to work on their overall wellbeing.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  SJP’s target population, all of whom are students of color with disabilities, experience the compounded health and economic effects of lack of access to education and incarceration. As a result, this population of young people is grossly adversely affected by economic and health disparities. But increasing education and reducing incarceration, the goals of our work, both have positive effects on economic mobility and health outcomes. We are excited to see how adding a social worker to our team will further these goals and lead to better outcomes for the young people in our client community.

• Building Futures

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Ward 8

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Building Futures' mission is to empower individuals to embrace their authentic selves through inclusive and supportive yoga practices. It focuses on promoting physical and emotional well-being while fostering personal growth and resilience. The goal is to inspire a lifestyle rooted in self-care, mindfulness, and positive connections within the community.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  We're excited about the funding for the youth printing coop as it will equip young people with vital skills in design and entrepreneurship. Participants will receive stipends for their hard work, empowering them and fostering a sense of ownership. This initiative will create a supportive community where they can collaborate, learn, and grow together, positively impacting their futures and our community as a whole.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  We are excited about the future of our community as we embrace the principles of the solidarity economy, which prioritizes collaboration and support over competition. By involving our kids in this movement and incorporating healing practices, we’re empowering them to create a work environment that values community welfare instead of capitalist ideals, fostering creativity and innovation. This holistic approach not only cultivates a sense of belonging and emotional wellness but also enables future generations to pursue meaningful work that contributes positively to society, free from the constraints of traditional capitalism.

• RUMA Collective

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We serve folks at the intersection of multiply oppressed identities including but not limited to: Black, Queer, Trans, Gender Non Conforming, Femme, Single /Primary parent, Immigrant or of immigrant dissent, Indigenous, Disabled, Neurodivergent.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  RUMA Collective promotes the health and financial wellbeing of undeserved creatives through access to healthcare, financial tools, operations support and leadership development. We serve those that exist at the intersections of multiple marginalized identities.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  We are excited to algin with a funder who understands the complexity of health equity! We hope to use this funding to pioneer innovative programming for creatives and entrepreneurs of all kinds, that gets to the core of what it means to build a fully sustainable life.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  RUMA see's a future where access to resources for diverse communities includes psychological and culturally competent care.

• Ayuda

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Ayuda serves low-income immigrants in the DC Metropolitan area.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Ayuda provides legal, social, and language services to help low-income immigrants in our neighborhoods access justice and transform their lives. For over 50 years, we have served more than 150,000 low-income immigrants throughout Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. Ayuda’s expert and dedicated professionals help immigrants from anywhere in the world navigate the immigration and justice systems and access the social safety net. This comprehensive and welcoming approach breaks down barriers, helps those in need, and makes our communities stronger!

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  With the Health Equity Fund, Ayuda will work with professional associations to award scholarships to interpreters who are low income, BIPOC and Deaf, and live in DC, covering costs associated with interpreter trainings, certification exams, and professional membership fees, attend conferences, and purchase equipment and software (laptop computers and accessories) needed for remote interpreting. Ayuda believes that increased access to professional training, certifications, and resources will catalyze economic mobility and improve health outcomes for low-income BIPOC and Deaf individuals. By reducing the financial barriers to entering the interpreting profession, Ayuda aims to create pathways out of poverty and precarity and toward economic self-sufficiency.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  As this population achieves greater economic mobility, the ripple effect disrupts the cycle of poverty in their communities, ultimately promoting racial and health equity. Scholarship recipients who graduate from trainings or receive a passing score on their certification exams will gain skills, become ideal candidates for Ayuda’s specialized trainings and trainings from other organizations, receive offers to accept paid assignments from Ayuda’s interpreter banks as independent contractors, and be open to work for other interpreter agencies via the connections they make through the associations they join.

• DC KinCare Alliance

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  DC KinCare Alliance supports DC-area relative caregivers (predominantly Black women) who step up to raise children in their extended families when the children’s parents cannot. Approximately 22,000 Black and Brown DC children live in kinship care arrangements, about 20% of all DC children of color. The majority live at or near the poverty level. Our work is guided by the needs of our kinship family constituents who live in all DC wards, but primarily Wards 5, 7, and 8.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  DC KinCare Alliance supports relative caregivers who raise DC’s most vulnerable and at-risk children in times of crisis when their parents are unable to care for them for reasons including death, incarceration, substance use or mental health disorders, child abuse, or deportation. We empower relatives to care for these children by providing legal representation, education, support groups, and advocacy.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  DC KinCare Alliance is excited to launch an innovative Community Organizing program that will elevate and amplify the voices of the historically marginalized community of DC’s kinship caregivers. Through this project, we will work alongside these constituents to reshape policy, social services, and programs that disproportionately limit their opportunities for economic mobility, health resources, and wealth-building.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  By shifting advocacy and community organizing control so that our work is being led by those most affected by health and wealth disparities, we are excited to engage in truly antiracist work. This style of disruptive and innovative work is most effective for building horizontal communities, engaging multiple spheres of influence, and harnessing existing formal and informal networks. We look forward to empowering our community to have their voices heard and have a continuous say in the policies that affect them.

• Social Justice Public Charter School

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  At Social Justice School, we proudly serve scholar-activists from 5th to 8th grade across all eight wards of Washington, D.C. As an open-enrollment school, we welcome students from a wide range of backgrounds, reflecting diversity in race, socioeconomic status, and home languages. Our mission is to create an inclusive and empowering learning environment for all of our scholar-activists, wherever they call home in the city.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Our mission is to catalyze an integrated community of middle-school learners to be scholar-activists who are designers of a more just world. In order to design a more just world, our students require an education that embraces and lives out a set of core beliefs about what it means to be human. At Social Justice School, we believe that love, learning, and liberation are at the heart of this mission. Our Guaranteed Together pilot embodies these values by seeking to disrupt intergenerational poverty through direct cash payments, providing families with the financial stability they need to thrive. This program goes hand in hand with our educational approach, which is rooted in love—recognizing the dignity and worth of every individual, learning—fostering intellectual growth and critical thinking, and liberation—equipping our scholar-activists to challenge systemic inequities and create lasting change. Together, we are building a future where education and economic justice intersect to create a more equitable society for all.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  We are excited to use this funding to create a transformative education model that integrates academic growth, student and family empowerment, and economic mobility. By embedding social justice principles and providing direct cash assistance, we aim to demonstrate that this approach not only boosts academic achievement but also promotes long-term economic mobility for our families.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  What excites me most about the future for our community is the transformative potential of the Guaranteed, Together pilot at Social Justice School. This project allows us to fundamentally shift the educational model by acknowledging poverty as the root cause of the opportunity gap that has long plagued our system. I’m excited to build a model that links economic mobility with a liberatory education, empowering our families to not only survive but thrive. Most importantly, I’m inspired by the vision of families and children having the financial security to meet their basic needs, giving them the freedom to dream and design a more just world. This is the kind of systemic change that can uplift entire generations.

• birdseed, inc

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  birdSEED gives no-strings attached downpayment assistance grants to BIPOC first time homebuyers from the Washington DC area.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  birdSEED helps close the racial wealth gap by supporting historically disadvantaged communities achieve home ownership. We do this by giving down payment assistance grants.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  With funding from the Health Equity Fund we will give no-strings attached grants to BIPOC residents of Washington DC who purchase a home in Washington DC. This funding will reduce displacement of DC residents to the surrounding areas and allow recipients to establish a home of their own in the District.

• DC Public Education Fund

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  DC Public Education Fund supports DC Public Schools in its implementation of its boldest and most innovative ideas. DCPEF's work supports students in every ward of DC, and is excited to pilot its Earn & Learn program at DCPS's Opportunity Academies with the support of the Greater Washington Community Foundation.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  In service of DC Public Schools (DCPS), DC Public Education Fund (DCPEF) fills a critical need in the community providing access to private funding to incubate innovative solutions to long-standing district needs. Since 2007, it has partnered with over 61 organizations to raise over $185 million to provide funding for key DCPS initiatives and catalyze positive change for over 50,000 students in DC, driving development in a number of areas, including: whole-child/anti-racist educational practices, a district-wide Reading Clinic, and a first-of-its-kind college persistence program for DCPS graduates. Ultimately, these initiatives are in service of ensuring DC’s young people are succeeding academically, feel loved, challenged, and prepared at school, and are set up for a lifetime of success.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  We’re thrilled to receive this funding as it will fuel the launch of our Earn & Learn program at DCPS's Opportunity Academies. This support allows us to provide traditionally underserved students with direct financial resources while they work toward their high school diploma and career certifications. The funding is pivotal in helping students overcome barriers to education and employment, and it will set them on a path toward greater economic security and health equity.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  We’re excited for the ripple effect this program will have on the community. By equipping students with industry-recognized credentials and supporting them with direct-to-student payments, we expect to see increased economic mobility and stability for these students and their families. This is about more than just jobs—it's about transforming lives, improving health outcomes, and empowering the next generation to thrive in high-quality careers, which will strengthen our entire city.

• DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  DC Appleseed serves everyone who lives or works in the District of Columbia.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  For thirty years and through litigation, teamwork, and advocacy, DC Appleseed has made the District of Columbia a better place to live and work. Independent and non-partisan, DC Appleseed works to expand democracy, promote economic mobility, and advance racial equity. Our collaboration with pro bono attorneys, volunteer professionals, and engaged community members is the backbone of our work, allowing us to leverage a small staff to tackle complex and diverse projects that improve the District.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  DC Appleseed and its partners in the Long Term Care Coalition hope to address a growing crisis: the number of direct care workers in DC is decreasing and, at the same time, the need for services is rising. We aim to improve the quality of jobs in this sector by raising wages, improving benefits, and increasing training opportunities, which will, in turn, increase access to quality care for all consumers.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  Discussions around healthcare increasingly focus on equity and eliminating disparities. Naming the problem is a strong first step to bringing the right stakeholders to the tables and addressing these inequities to ensure all members of our community thrive.

• Speakout, Inc

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Speakout primarily serves the LGBTQIA+ community in Washington, DC, and Prince George's County, offering a range of services aimed at fostering inclusivity, visibility, and support. Our organization focuses on creating safe spaces for the community through a variety of initiatives. We host community events like the annual I AM Awards, which celebrates contributions from LGBTQIA+ individuals, along with workshops, and social gatherings that bring people together. Our cultural competency training helps local businesses and organizations better understand LGBTQ+ issues, ensuring their environments are inclusive and welcoming. In collaboration with local healthcare providers, Speakout offers health and wellness initiatives, including access to gender-affirming care, mental health support, and health screenings. We’re committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights, especially for trans and non-binary individuals, ensuring they receive the resources and recognition they deserve. Speakout also emphasizes youth engagement, partnering with schools and community centers to create safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth. These programs focus on education, empowerment, and personal development, giving young people the support they need to thrive. By serving both Washington, DC, and Prince George's County, Speakout bridges communities, ensuring that LGBTQIA+ individuals have the resources, support, and recognition they deserve, all while advocating for a more inclusive future.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Speakout's mission is to support and empower the LGBTQIA+ community in Washington, DC, and Prince George's County through advocacy, education, and inclusive community-building. We focus on creating safe spaces, improving access to healthcare and mental health services, and providing visibility and support for LGBTQIA+ individuals, with a special emphasis on youth and marginalized identities.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  Receiving funding from the Health Equity Fund excites us because it will allow us to expand access to critical health services and financial empowerment resources for the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly in underserved areas. With this support, we hope to provide comprehensive gender-affirming care, mental health resources, health screenings, and financial literacy programs, ensuring both health and economic well-being for all. This funding will help us advocate for the holistic well-being and visibility of marginalized groups.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  I am excited about the future for our community as we see increasing visibility and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ individuals, which paves the way for meaningful change. Growing support from allies, improved policies, and expanded access to resources create a more inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. I believe that with continued advocacy and collaboration, we can empower our community to achieve greater health, economic stability, and overall well-being.

• Mi Casa, Inc

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Mi Casa serves 1,600 residents in the District of Columbia annually. Of the residents we serve, 40% are at or below 30% of Area Median Income (AMI), 35% are between 31-50% AMI, and 25% are between 51-80% AMI. Approximately 45% identify as Latino and other recent immigrants (including immigrants from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa) and 50% identify as Black. Despite many of these homes being multi-person, a majority of them are housing-burdened or extremely housing-burdened, meaning they spend more than one-third or one-half of their income on housing.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  For thirty years, Mi Casa has been dedicated to providing quality affordable housing to low- and moderate-income households in the Washington, D.C. area. Mi Casa is a Latino-led affordable housing nonprofit supporting D.C. residents primarily at extremely low-income levels, the majority of whom identify as immigrants, Latino, or Black. Propelled by the belief that housing is a basic human right, Mi Casa works to increase the supply of affordable and supportive housing, to remove the barriers to obtaining affordable housing, and to increase the economic security of households with low incomes.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  Mi Casa works to foster economic mobility among historically marginalized communities and reduce barriers to affordable, supportive housing in the District of Columbia. To achieve these goals, we partner with residents to stave off the rapid gentrification taking place in historically Black, Latino, and immigrant-occupied neighborhoods. Through the support of the Health Equity Fund, Mi Casa will partner with residents to pilot Wealth Creation Funds through Limited Equity Cooperatives (LECs) as a tool for economic mobility and wealth creation.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  Mi Casa envisions a world where all individuals and families have access to affordable and sustainable housing. Strong District neighborhoods occur when people are empowered to make decisions about their environment, community, and neighborhood. We believe that in facing the current challenges for affordable housing we will be able to steward a more just and equitable future for the diverse residents of DC’s vibrant neighborhoods.

• Women Palante

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Our work concentrates on Wards 1 in Columbia Heights, Washington, D.C. We have targeted zip codes 2009 and 20010, where our partner schools are.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  To empower Latina women, particularly mothers, by providing holistic, science-based trainings that enhance their emotional, physical, mental and financial health through business education, brain-based wellbeing, mindfulness, yoga, and community connection.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  We are thrilled about this funding as it will allow us to scale our flagship program, Mompreneurs, which empowers Latina women, especially mothers, through comprehensive, science-based training that enhances their emotional, physical, mental, and financial well-being. With this support, we plan to expand our team, enhance our program offerings, and reach more women in need. Currently, we have 64 women on our waiting list, and while we registered 68 participants in our last cohort, we could only support 26. Our goal is to graduate 50 women within the grant term, demonstrating the significant demand for our program.

  In summary, the success of this grant will be marked by expanded programming and strengthened operational capacity, leading to measurable improvements in the health and well-being of women and families. By focusing on economic mobility, wealth building, and health equity through a community-centered approach, Women Palante is dedicated to creating lasting change in the lives of Latina women in the Greater Washington, DC area. Our nonprofit serves as a beacon for female entrepreneurs with a unique holistic approach to business acumen and well-being. With the Greater Washington Community Foundation Health Equity Fund's support, we are committed to closing the gap in access to our Mompreneurs program, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes and community wealth building.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  The future for our community is incredibly promising as we focus on building strong, supportive networks. Entrepreneurship can often feel isolating, which can negatively impact mental health. Our approach not only provides essential resources to address these challenges but also fosters community support that boosts confidence and encourages shared opportunities. Feedback from participants highlights the power of this collective support, where they feel empowered to persevere and thrive together.

  We recognize that loneliness and depression often stem from personal challenges, trauma, and financial stress, leaving many Latina women feeling isolated. By creating a safe and nurturing environment, we allow participants to share their experiences and provide mutual support, helping them overcome challenges and grow together.

  Through our programs, women form meaningful relationships and a sense of sisterhood, knowing they are not alone. We provide access to resources like low-cost psychotherapy, lending services, and cultural events, helping women fully engage with the community and explore new opportunities. With this grant, we plan to host more community-led events, ensuring we remain connected and can continue to offer resources and support for their businesses and well-being. Together, this robust network empowers women to overcome challenges and thrive.

• Open City Advocates

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Our clients typically range from 16-25 years old and are (or were formerly) committed to the DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS). “Commitment” to DYRS means that a young person is a ward of the city, oftentimes until age 21, and that their placement in a facility, level of care, and supportive services may change throughout this time without court oversight. There are extreme racial disparities in the youth delinquency system nationwide, with Black and Latino/a children being committed and incarcerated at 4.7 times the rate compared to their white peers. It is even more extreme in the District of Columbia, where 100% of all committed children are children of color, and 93% are Black, while Black youth comprise only 51% of the DC youth population.

  The majority of OCA’s clients hail from Wards 7 and 8, where residents experience DC’s highest rates of child poverty, school dropout, unemployment, and gun violence. Our other clients come from neighborhoods in Wards 1, 4, 5, and 6 that are experiencing similar crises. OCA’s clients have had extensive contact with the delinquency system and are often disconnected from school and other community supports; most have also been in DC’s child welfare system, and all are at high risk for entering the DC Jail or being harmed or killed by street violence. In our 19-year history, we have lost six of our young people to gun violence and one to a drug overdose. OCA works tirelessly to help our youth envision and actualize a healthy adulthood instead of accepting death or incarceration by age 25.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Open City Advocates provides youth-centered legal defense and holistic advocacy for young people after sentencing in the DC juvenile justice system and works for systemic improvements to the juvenile justice system, both locally and nationally, to better the lives of marginalized children and youth. OCA’s unique combination of long-term mentoring and comprehensive advocacy tackles our clients’ challenges head on and gives youth the tools they need to succeed.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  Using COVID relief funds over the past three years, we have provided attendance-based scholarship stipends to our clients enrolled in school or workforce development programs, and we are thrilled that Health Equity Fund’s support will enable us to continue providing these scholarship stipends.

  These scholarship stipends have been extremely effective in helping our clients exit the revolving door of poverty and the criminal justice system. Contrasted with the high re-arrest rate of 93% for children committed to DYRS, ours is a highly effective program: for our clients who have received a scholarship stipend for more than six months, only 15% have been re-arrested so far, and none have been re-convicted.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  Our vision is a legal system that is equitable, fair, and compassionate towards children and youth. Through this project, by providing scholarship stipends and basic needs assistance to young people who are returning from incarceration, OCA will provide the connectivity to services and supports that our clients need to thrive throughout the reentry process. By providing a scholarship stipend if our clients enroll in school or a workforce development program, we are thereby creating a crucial bridge to education and job training. The logic here is simple: providing stipends for education and internship opportunities enables clients who face poverty and racial injustice to make decisions under less severe constraints. All of these critical supports directly assist our clients with reintegration, break the cycle of unemployment, help to avoid homelessness, reduce recidivism and tackle the extreme racial and economic disparities facing our clients and their families.

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Returning Nonprofit Partners

• DC Central Kitchen

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Our Culinary Job Training program primarily serves residents East of the Anacostia River in Wards 7 and 8, but we have citywide reach with growing demand for our services in Wards 1, 4, 5, and 6.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Founded in 1989 as the nation's first “community kitchen,” DC Central Kitchen uses food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds, and build communities. Our holistic model provides culinary training and employment opportunities to hundreds of people annually while serving thousands of healthy, locally sourced meals each day, addressing the immediate effects and root causes of hunger in our community.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  DC Central Kitchen is excited to link our proven workforce development model with holistic investments and partnerships that enhance our students’ health, wellbeing, and long-term outlook. Workforce development isn’t just training and credentials—it’s comprehensively identifying talents, reducing barriers, building confidence, and shifting power, and these resources will help us do just that.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  DC Central Kitchen has learned how to better address the depth and complexity of employment barriers that face our neighbors who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, racial inequities, and the criminal justice system. Through innovative and strategic partnerships as well as investments in building and engaging relatable mentors, we are fostering economic mobility along with robust community leadership.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  We are excited because the District of Columbia has everything it needs to succeed. Shifting how our community identifies, engages, celebrates, and aligns those remarkable assets will determine our ability to create a more inclusive economy where every Washingtonian has the assets, access, and opportunities they need to thrive.

• Yachad

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Yachad works primarily in Wards 4, 5, 7 and 8.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Yachad is a nonprofit housing organization that brings together local communities to make affordable housing safe and healthy, creating equity and wealth for families while preserving and revitalizing neighborhoods. Yachad is a Hebrew word that means "together."

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  This funding is an opportunity to provide support to lower income families seeking to purchase their first home or are new homeowners. In the past, our work has supported homeowners who have lived in their homes for several years or even decades. With this funding, Yachad can ensure that homes are inspected well before purchase, provide home remediation assistance if needed, earlier, and see that families have sufficient home maintenance information to be knowledgeable homeowners.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  Yachad's mantra continues to be "Where you live matters." We have seen this even more so over the past several years as an HEF grantee. Having sufficient resources to be able to efficiently and competently provide critical home repairs to our homeowners has been a game changer in terms of providing strong foundations for a family's continuing success at home and in the community. So many families have shared stories with us about not worrying about their roofs leaking or waking up with an asthma attack because repairs have been made. A family can go about their daily business because their homes are not making them sick. These same families have a chance to build wealth through the home equity that they are achieving by new investments in neighborhoods and in their own homes. Families can remain in their homes building wealth and achieving better health.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  We are excited because the importance of stable home ownership is being understood by more people at the city and federal levels. Investing in wealth building through home ownership is a central theme in our upcoming Presidential election. The more resources targeted at supporting successful home ownership for lower income families, the more racial and economic equity can be achieved in the near future.

• ONE DC

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  ONE DC serves communities of color, the working poor, immigrants, and other oppressed people in all 8 Wards of DC.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  At ONE DC, our mission is to exercise political strength to create and preserve racial and economic equity in Shaw and the District. We seek to create a community in DC that is equitable for all.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  ONE DC is excited because the funding provides much needed support, creates opportunities for long term DC residents and focuses on the population the Health Equity Fund is designed to support and sustains. It is a big relief and encouragement to have such solid funding. This is very exciting and makes the Health Workers Collective viable.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  ONE DC learned that worker cooperatives need a lot of training support and economic support. We impacted over 200 DC residents through workshops, community events, and cooperative education training. Skills development training in leading, managing, and incorporating worker cooperatives is key to the sustainability of these community ventures.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  ONE DC continues to recruit more volunteers and members to join our work. We've worked to provide a space within our community where people can strengthen their education on topics that affect them and work alongside one another to enact change. This is something that we've done since our inception and something we will do for as long as ONE DC is operating. ONE DC is excited to continue our work and community outreach in hopes of creating real, impactful change in Washington, DC.

• Council for Court Excellence

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  CCE’s work ultimately impacts all D.C. residents whether they are involved in the criminal justice system, called for jury service, or need access to justice through probate, rent assistance, or many other justice system services and mechanisms. However, we know that throughout D.C.’s legal system, Black people are disproportionately impacted, especially residents of Wards 5, 7 and 8. While Black people make up 41.4% of D.C.’s population, they make up 86% of the people arrested, 87% of the people jailed, and 90% of the people in prison. People incarcerated at the D.C. Jail are overwhelmingly from just a few neighborhoods in Wards 5, 7, and 8, and those neighborhoods have the greatest number of residents who have previously been incarcerated. One in seven adults in the District has a publicly available criminal record and it is estimated that only 30 to 50% of these individuals are able to find and maintain employment.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  The Council for Court Excellence (CCE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that envisions a justice system in the District that equitably serves its people. CCE identifies and proposes solutions by collaborating with diverse stakeholders to conduct research, advance policy, educate the public, and increase civic engagement.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  We’re excited to receive HEF funding because it will allow CCE’s Second Chance Hiring Alliance to expand upon our efforts to reduce barriers to employment for returning citizens and those with criminal records (collectively, “justice impacted”) in our area. Our overarching goals are to: educate D.C. employers on the importance and benefits of second chance hiring, encourage them to hire justice impacted people, and facilitate effective collaboration between our coalition of D.C.-area employers, government agencies, community-based organizations, workforce development programs, and job readiness programs. With this HEF funding, we will recruit new business members to join the Alliance and commit to second chance hiring; create and disseminate educational resources for employers on the benefits, incentives, and legal protections offered in the District for second chance employers; and create more awareness and “positive peer pressure” on businesses to encourage them to increase their second chance hiring efforts.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  Over the last two years, we’ve seen significant changes in how the District’s leaders and residents think and talk about community safety, prosecutions, and incarceration. Without a doubt, it is important to respect peoples’ concerns about crime and how it has impacted communities. At the same time, we’ve learned that it is important to lead with accurate information and data when addressing policies surrounding the criminal legal system and avoid demonizing people whose involvement in crime is often a product of health and economic inequities and gaps. Numerically, we have, unfortunately, seen an increase in the reliance on incarceration during the past two years in the District, and have not seen a measurable rise in returning citizen employment yet – with only 54% of the “employable” individuals on supervised release having a job in 2023. We have learned, therefore, that there is much work to do and that it is critical to bring together unlikely partnerships, actively myth-bust stereotypes about returning citizens, and to stay the course, even when there are short-term blips in public sentiment around the criminal justice system and justice-involved people. On a program implementation level, we learned that “cold” outreach to businesses was less effective than making contact through/via Alliance members and partners. In developing this proposal, we have reflected that by emphasizing outreach through and with partner organizations like the Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce and the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  We are excited to support a future where individuals with criminal records in D.C. can have ample opportunities to find a stable, rewarding job and improve their economic well-being. As we begin to see growing employer, policymaker, and public support for “second chances,” we are excited about a future that is more inclusive and where more partners work together to see returning citizens and others with criminal records thrive.

• Rebuilding Together DC Alexandria

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  all 8 wards in DC, the City of Alexandria, VA

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Rebuilding Together DC Alexandria (RTDCA) has been a vital force in community service for nearly 40 years. Our foundation lies in the belief that every individual deserves a safe and healthy home environment. Our focus extends to serving vulnerable populations, including older adults, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and families with children, by providing them with free safety- and health-related home repairs and upgrades. Recognizing that poor housing conditions disproportionately affect these groups, our mission is grounded in the understanding that addressing housing challenges can have a profound impact on one’s health, well-being, and economic stability.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  Our research and experience support the strong connection between health and safety hazards in the home and the health, safety, and well-being of the home’s residents, especially related to asthma and other breathing issues, falls in the home, mental health and stress, and financial stress. Health Equity funds will allow us to improve living conditions, free of charge, for our low-income clients, allowing them to stay in their homes, and spend their limited incomes on food, transportation, medical and wellness needs.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  Based upon interviews with clients during a recent Client Impact Study, short-term post-intervention outcomes showed that 99% of homeowners were satisfied with living in their homes, 92% saved on costs that would have created financial burdens, and 68% had decreased energy bills -- all improving their financial stability and economic mobility. Also, our recent Social Return on Investment study of our services showed that for every $1 invested in home repairs and modifications by RTDCA, there is a projected social return of $4.38. This value is being realized through increased economic security and independence, increased physical health and safety, improved mental health, and increased community connection of the clients we serve

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  What is most exciting is that these funds will enable us to help long-term residents remain in their homes, preserving their place in the communities they've been part of for decades!

• Beloved Community Incubator

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We provide training, leadership development, and technical assistance (legal, bookkeeping) for worker-owned cooperatives and offer non-extractive lending through the DC Solidarity Economy Loan Fund. We have an explicitly multiracial organizing approach that includes both Black and brown migrant communities alongside Native Black Washingtonians, and we are active in Wards 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Beloved Community Incubator (BCI) is a solidarity economy movement organization, incubator, lender, and worker self-directed non-profit in Washington, DC. BCI focuses on building a regional solidarity economy that centers people, especially poor and working-class workers and people of color, over profit. We help create family sustaining jobs through worker-ownership and create market access for local BIPOC-owned businesses to close the racial wealth gap.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  This funding will help us to intentionally develop and grow the DC-area regional solidarity economy and the power of poor and working class workers of color throughout the region. We will focus on Black and migrant led cooperatives, creating an outreach pipeline and capacity building program and support strategic industries – such as home health care. We will continue to provide technical assistance and financing to preserve dozens of jobs in Washington, DC by facilitating the sale of businesses to current employees, and we will extend the scope of our regional listening to include focus groups with constituents in Wards 1, 5, 7, and 8 as well as EOR residents pushed into PG County. This regional listening will shape a 3-5 year agenda for expanding worker-ownership in the region.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  A main barrier communities of color face in starting and expanding businesses is a lack of access to capital. BCI built a curriculum that accompanies workers to build out their business model, create decision making structures, and understand financial models. We have learned over and over that a significant level of accompaniment and support is needed for groups of workers, especially those with employment, literacy, and tech barriers, to move from idea to operation. Currently in our loan pipeline through the DC Solidarity Economy Loan Fund, we have five groups with potential loans totaling $250,000-$500,000. Every major development leap that BCI has made as an organization began with listening. To shape our work over the next 3-5 years, we decided to begin a participatory action research campaign this summer to 500 conversations to learn what workers dream for their workplaces, as well as identify strategic opportunities. We are continuing this listening campaign with a second phase in the Spring. Already we are hearing paid sick days, workers compensation, and health savings funds are pressing issues for our members. We will continue to explore the direction of a collective economic project for BCI Network members to build together and we will continue to listen for strategic opportunities to catalyze growth and connection within the DC-area regional solidarity economy.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  Building a regional network coop by coop and weaving together those inherently “disruptive” businesses is an innovative and creative strategy to provide poor and working class BIPOC community members a powerful alternative to minimum wage labor and unreliable hours under the system of racialized capitalism. Business as usual means extraction from workers and our communities, where worker-ownership builds community wealth, better jobs, and higher wages. Currently we are working with a group of Ethiopian and Eritrean parents with special needs children who want to start an autism homecare business; 51st News the first worker-led newsroom in DC; a Black-owned yoga cooperative; and Rise Up Fitness, a Black-owned cooperative gym. Each of these businesses would be the first cooperative of its kind in our region – a future not possible without the deep accompaniment and training our organization provides.

• Fathers in Tech/Capital Youth Empowerment Program

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Wards 7 and Ward 8

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  CYEP promotes equity for underserved people through social skill development and economic mobility. The outcomes of FIT are two-fold, the results of the program include engaged, responsible fathers that can help financially support their families and children, in addition to guidance and support for economic mobility through skill building and corporate connection.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  The funding supports the organizational infrastructure critical to CYEP’s growth and sustainability. The funds will support the CFO position to ensure fiscal accountability, maintain a budgeting process, and oversee the audit process. In addition, the funds will support the Senior Staff Director which will provide supervision, support training for management staff. Investments in our executive team will pay dividends both now and in the future.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  Over the past two years CYEP has learned that collaboration with community networks are key to programmatic success. The community and corporate networks have created a more comprehensive and complete services for the families we serve. In addition, the partnerships are yielding more programmatic funding as partners observe the positive outcomes of services.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  The health equity fund is allowing for organizations to be innovative in how they serve the community. Our clients and community members are receiving both social skill development and barriers to economic mobility are being eliminated.

• AsylumWorks

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  AsylumWorks serves newcomers regardless of origin, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, and/or English ability in all DC neighborhoods/zip codes. With other grant funding, we also serve clients in Northern Virginia as well as Montgomery County and Prince George's County, Maryland. AsylumWorks serves people fleeing persecution who generally fall into the following categories: 1) Asylum seekers: Individuals seeking protection due to persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group; 2) Refugees and Asylees: Individuals who have been granted permanent legal protection offering a pathway to U.S. citizenship; and 3) Humanitarian Parolees: Individuals who have been granted temporary legal protection. This includes Afghan Allies and Ukrainian nationals.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Our mission is to empower asylum seekers and other people seeking safety in the U.S. AsylumWorks provides critical services to underserved newcomers to reduce health disparities and increase access to justice.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  AsylumWorks sees the Greater Washington Community Foundation, and particularly the Health Equity Fund, as a thought leader and community leader for those serving the District’s most vulnerable populations. During the last year, we have strengthened our understanding of how health equity and justice are dependent on one another and improved how we frame and approach our work as a result. As we narrow our scope on the coming grant to bolster our E&E program specifically, we hope to increase our integration into the community network as we work towards shared objectives for increasing opportunities for economic mobility. We are invigorated to contribute to AIR, HEF, and other grantee outcomes on how to effectively serve our unique and deserving population.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  AsylumWorks has learned a great deal in the last two years, but two lessons stand out. First, AsylumWorks should strengthen relationships with other grantees. Given that our service population is very specific in the BIPOC community, it can be challenging to prioritize building relationships with other organizations when they don’t have an immediately evident service overlap. However, our work with the HEF Evaluator revealed multiple ways to engage with organizations that do not specifically target our clientele but still serve them. Moving forward, we see opportunities to build a stronger network with these organizations to enhance community support for our clients. Thus, community networking is key to one of our objectives in our Round 5 program.

  Second is that our service model can and should evolve as the needs of our clients do. Our program structure has changed in several ways since our initial award in 2022. We updated our approach to better serve our clients based on direct feedback. For example, we overhauled our E&E program in 2023 as a result of direct client feedback and thus reported lower service numbers during that time. In order to promote economic mobility, and not just economic stability, E&E staff developed original content specifically tailored to newcomers and English or computer-skill-limited clients, and developed several different service tracks that address the varied needs of newcomers in different stages of the immigration legal process. Now that our new program structure is in place, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from clients that they are more able to access opportunities they want and that pay well, rather than just simply securing any job opportunity they can get. We are ready to expand these services, as seen by the new initiatives proposed that will, in part, be funded by this grant.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  We feel we’re starting to see a shift in the immigrant-serving community away from just resettlement and more towards community integration, which is very exciting. AsylumWorks has always employed a model of care that recognizes that one kind of service alone is never enough; legal services alone or a survival job alone are not enough to truly empower newcomers to build lives with dignity where they can meet all their needs. To fully understand the needs of our clients, we employ newcomers themselves and involve them in all stages of program development and implementation. In 2023, our fellowship program was recognized by the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement as a national best practice, and a similar activity is now a core competency in ORR’s newest national grant.

  Since these milestones, we are thrilled to have been tapped to provide trainings to help other organizations adopt the program model. The hope for the fellowship program and our other community-led initiatives is that they would only temporarily be unique to us; our vision is a world where all newcomer-serving organizations, and even those who aren’t specific to newcomers, will move towards program models that are led by the communities they serve. We are so excited to contribute leadership to this shift and continue innovating new ideas that help immigrants and other BIPOC not just survive, but thrive.

• Calvary Women's Services

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Women experiencing homelessness in Wards 7 and 8

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Calvary Women’s Services (Calvary) empowers women experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC, to transform their lives through housing, health, education, and employment programs. Each year, of the women who complete our programs, an average of 70% of women end their homelessness or maintain permanent housing.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  Calvary is excited to receive funding that will support our continued expansion, focused on economic empowerment for women. This will include tripling the size of our rental assistance program and piloting a guaranteed income program for women who are experiencing homelessness as a result of domestic violence.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  With the support of the Health Equity Fund, Calvary prioritized the expansion of our health services that work alongside economic resources like employment access and education support. We were able to serve more than 350 over the past two years, and 75% of women who completed our programs had secured income and/or employment.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  We are excited about the way that tools like guaranteed income can support generational changes and empower women to build wealth despite the systemic barriers they are facing.

• My Sister's Place

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  MSP serves approximately 500 survivors of domestic violence annually, roughly 40% women and 60% children. MSP primarily serves women and children of color experiencing low-income, with about 85% of our clients identifying as African American and 12% as Latinx. Our clients include many immigrants; we serve clients regardless of immigration status. Approximately 80% of clients live below the poverty line, earning less than $25,000 annually. Most adult clients are women in their early to mid-20s. Safe housing, financial security, and pathways to economic stability are cited as their most pressing needs. We accept clients from all zip codes of DC, though the majority come from Ward 7 (25%) , Ward 8 (36%), and Ward 5 (24%).

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  My Sister’s Place (MSP) shelters, supports and empowers survivors of domestic violence and their children, while providing leadership and education to build a supportive community. As one of DC’s oldest domestic violence shelters, MSP was founded in 1979 and has been serving survivors of domestic violence in DC for 45 years. MSP is unique in offering a full continuum of care to empower survivors in gaining long-term self-sufficiency, serving families from the first days of deciding to flee their abusive homes, to long after they have established their own homes. Our programs include emergency shelter, transitional housing, workforce development, cash assistance, children's programming, and aftercare.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  We are excited to be able to continue a deeply impactful program that directly addresses financial abuse while building economic security for survivors of domestic violence. Lack of affordable safe housing and financial instability are the main reasons survivors of domestic violence return to their abusers, with 98% of domestic violence survivors citing financial abuse, according to the WHO. RISE Trust directly addresses both by supporting our clients in transitional housing with $500/month for two years. We outline impact numbers below, but are most excited to see the direct positive impact on survivors, as reflected in our client’s own words below:
  
  “The RISE Trust program has made me feel the safest and most comfortable I have felt in about 8 years. My experience with this program has helped me or should I say gave me the support I need to be able to take care of myself and my son! With the support I receive I am able to make healthier decisions for a more positive and successful life.
  
  Over a two-year period, MSP hopes to accomplish:

  - 30 families reporting improved health and wellbeing as represented by reporting increased access to healthcare, childcare, employment, and an overall reduction in stress.

  - 30 families gaining proficiency in personal finances including developing and implementing monthly budgets, improved credit scores, and building savings.

  - 30 families improving their economic stability as represented by increased income, increased employment or career readiness, and a path to permanent stable housing.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  In the one-year survey compared to the initial survey of our RISE Trust program, the percentage of clients who reported that they could not access or afford healthcare dropped from 31% to 6%. Similarly, the percentage of clients who said they could not access or afford childcare dropped by 25%. Clients were also twice as likely to report that they had a trusted person to ask for advice on their finances. The majority of funds were used on basic needs (19%), utilities and bills (24%), and transportation (13%).

  Qualitative impact has also been measured in case management meetings and notes. Some clients made investments in their transportation in the form of car repairs, paying for tickets, insurance, and even making advance payments and paying off their vehicles. Other clients have been able to make payments towards their credit card debt, or debt with the IRS. Still others have been able to provide extra-curricular activities or thoroughly celebrate momentous occasions for their children, impacting family engagement, moral and mental health. RISE Trust payments have also been beneficial to clients who are students but not currently employed. Lastly, some have saved a portion of their funds in preparation for transitioning out of RISE, when they will have to make their own rental payments. Overall, participants reported an overall sense of relief and reduction in stress.

  One of the biggest lessons we learned through the first 18 months of the project was the value of financial education for clients who opted to participate, and the need to make those services as accessible as possible. MSP added a partnership with CFLS to help us expand Financial Literacy education options for clients, in addition to our partnership with CAAB. Moreover, we began to build out an in-house program, and recently hired our own Financial Education Specialist so that we can provide financial literacy in-house and to more clients. The position will partner closely with our current Workforce Development Manager, who launched our Workforce Development program in November 2023. We have seen a drastic increase in client participation around career readiness, employment training, and education goals through having a staff member in-house to follow-up with clients, provide 1:1 case management, and have continuity of care around workforce development. We are optimistic for a similar increase in engagement with an in-house Financial Education Specialist.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  We are excited to see Guaranteed Income pilots becoming more common, and for the precedent HEF is setting by continuing to fund programs like RISE Trust. Continued support sends a signal to other funders and the public that these programs are worth investing in. For domestic violence survivors in particular, economic security is essential to escaping abuse, and we are hopeful that with the example set by RISE Trust and other programs, cash assistance programs will become more common as wrap-around services to support survivors.

• HIPS

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  BIPOC communities engaged in street economies, trans/NB folks, PWUD, and sex workers in all wards of Washington DC

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  HIPS promotes the health, rights, and dignity of individuals and communities impacted by sexual exchange and/or drug use due to choice, coercion, or circumstance. HIPS provides compassionate harm reduction services, advocacy, and community engagement that is respectful, non-judgmental, and affirms and honors individual power and agency.

  We believe that those engaged in sex work, sex trade, and drug use should be able to live healthy, self-determined, and self-sufficient lives free from stigma, violence, criminalization or oppression. We will achieve this through engaging sex workers, drug users and our communities in challenging structural barriers to health, safety, and prosperity.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  Through support from the Health Equity Fund, HIPS will implement and evaluate radical human resources and community practices that support leadership development and equitable employment practices for LGBTQ+ BIPOC individuals with lived experience in street economies. Through our leadership learning collaborative, we will engage with other like minded organizations to build the capacity for a community of practice implementing and evaluating these models. Through this work, we will add support to our own staff (87% BIPOC individuals with lived street economy experience), and with our partner organization staff and other community members for equitable and anti-racist workforce development experiences which support the economic and career mobility of those most impacted by health and racial disparities.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  Our work prior to this project centered around Building Internal and External Equity for People in Street Economies. Part of this work was exploring ideas and concepts we have not had the capacity to bring to fruition. Our main lesson learned is that this work takes time, and we need to be ok with that. The concept of rushing and aiming for perfection is based in white supremacy, the very thing our project wanted to disrupt. This challenge drastically changed our project's timeline, however, it allowed us to be very thoughtful and thorough in getting in depth input and feedback from the target population, BIPOC transgender women. We used that input and feedback alongside our organizational data and staff experiences and developed a community led Trans Wellness Incubator project creating paths for economic mobility for 35 trans women of color and others in street economies.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  We are excited for the opportunities for economic mobility, true leadership development, and truly supporting and preparing the next BIPOC generation of leaders. This funding gives HIPS and our community partners the opportunity to carve out space to focus on creating radical models of workforce development, equitable compensation, and anti-racists HR practices that finally disrupt the status quo models that are continuity creating barriers for individual and organizational growth.

• Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Free Minds serves more than 1,500 people who were charged and incarcerated as adults while they were under the age of 18. Our members are from and live in all DC zip codes. Free Minds members have endured systemic racism, over-policed and disinvested DC neighborhoods with inequitable health and education systems, a shortage of affordable and quality housing, and food insecurity.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop uses the transformative power of the literary arts to build community among those directly impacted by the criminal legal system and elevate their stories to spark system change. We foster personal development for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth and adults through the literary arts, workforce development, trauma healing, peacebuilding, and member-led advocacy.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  We are most excited to use funding from the Health Equity Fund to build power and accelerate our work closing the enormous racial wealth gap for those that have been formerly incarcerated. This funding expands our services that include job placements, professional training, health care, credit building, peer support, and referrals for housing, legal support, and career opportunities that increase economic advancement. By supporting our programming that strengthens the leadership and increases the economic mobility of formerly incarcerated individuals, this funding furthers our goal of achieving transformative justice.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  Engaging with community partners in the Health Equity Fund’s network over the past two years, we have seen that the most powerful use of collaboration and community power is coming together to dismantle the systems that deny health equity and economic mobility to BIPOC communities. Hearing how other Health Equity Fund grantees provide direct services simultaneously with advocacy and community organizing has enhanced our work in both areas. By building strong community partnerships, we have been able to connect our members with a broad network of opportunities that have led to strong outcomes: In 2023, 97% of formerly incarcerated Free Minds members were employed or enrolled in an educational program, and 98% did not return to the criminal legal system. Meanwhile, 140 members lead systems change by participating in coalitions and campaigns across DC.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  We are most excited to widen our strong network of formerly incarcerated leaders informing and leading advocacy campaigns to disrupt the system of mass incarceration and work towards a society where all can thrive. Free Minds members are the community stakeholders that will achieve our organization’s vision of a DC where BIPOC communities have abundant access to resources for economic advancement, healing, growth, creative expression, love, and connection. Through the advocacy of Free Minds leaders, we are excited to reach a future where mass incarceration no longer exists.

• DC Affordable Law Firm

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  DC Affordable Law Firm serves clients living across all eight of our city's Wards. Across our practice areas, we have the highest volume of clients residing in 20019, 20020, 20001, and 20011, in descending order, with our most significant client impacts in Wards 1, 5, 7, and 8.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  DC Affordable Law Firm delivers accessible justice to modest-income DC residents who do not qualify for traditional sources of free civil legal services and cannot afford standard representation. Our innovative programming expands access to justice by empowering community members with unmet legal needs while also launching the careers of public interest lawyers committed to accessible justice. Through our dignified no-cost and low-cost representation options, DCALF bridges the gap in legal services, changes DC’s legal landscape, and makes accessible justice a reality.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  This significant funding from the Health Equity Fund is transformative for DC Affordable Law Firm and is an investment -- not just in DCALF's unique mission and model -- but in DC's hardworking ALICE households who have long comprised the "forgotten middle" in legal services. With the support of the Health Equity Fund and the free legal services we now render, families can keep and grow resources to help meet other life demands, like child care and student loans, while also pursuing individual objectives in a way that promotes longevity and overall well-being, and achieve legal outcomes that help families build sustainable wealth. Over the next two years, DCALF plans to continue the work of our first two years partnership with the Health Equity Fund, engage in even more authentic community engagement and partnership establishment, and expand and deepen our one-of-a-kind probate and estate administration program to reach more vulnerable DC residents and reduce the legal barriers and burdens they face in trying to retain and sustain their hard-earned assets.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  Over the past two years, we have learned much about the incredible power of partnerships to expand our impact, the immense value of adding more tenured attorneys and staff to our team thanks to the Health Equity Fund, and the incredible freedom and empowerment that comes from serving our modest- and lower-income clients for free. We have come to holistically appreciate the ways in which the free legal services we deliver and the impacts we can achieve not only positively affect our individual clients, but can change the economic stratus and financial trajectory of subsequent generations and, some instances, shape the composition of communities and determine who can afford to remain as residents and homeowners within DC. In recent years, we have experienced growth in all of our areas of practice, ranging from 236% to 770% in terms of clients served and cases handled, a prime marker of our expanded community impact made possible thanks to this partnership with the Health Equity Fund and the financial support of others who followed suit thanks to the GWCF's pioneering approach and significant investment in DCALF and our deserving clients.

  Partnership with the Health Equity Fund has enabled us to think big and given us the bandwidth to launch new, transformative programs to fill critical access to justice gaps in our community, thus fostering broader economic justice, dismantling more barriers, and using the legal services to fortify long-term economic resilience and justice for the Black, Latino, and immigrant District residents we primarily serve. Though we have experienced tremendous growth across all practice areas, the most seismic and pronounced impact has been through DCALF's leadership in the city's heirs' property, probate, and estate planning offerings for modest- and lower-income residents, and our efforts to think outside the box and bring services further upstream to combat the loss of intergenerational homes and wealth. In Fall 2023, we started tracking the value of intergenerational homes saved through our heirs’ property legal representation; the value of these homes has exceeded $15,000,000 in the first seven months we have been tracking this data, which is a testament to the economic security and prosperity we are helping families to safeguard and secure. As we look to the future, we are thrilled to spend the next two years continuing our expanded impact and finding new ways to measure the value and broader economic impact our services bring to our clients, their families, and subsequent generations.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  The future is bright, and there is limitless potential to keep breaking down barriers so individuals and families can live their fullest lives. The challenges families experience on a daily basis are real, yet the louder we can beat the drum and bring a central focus to the opportunities that exist to do things differently and better, the better off we will all be. Within the very small ecosystem of DC Affordable Law Firm, we have keenly experienced how much can be gained by being unafraid to reinvent systems and try new things -- and we know this spirit of innovation that fuels the approach of our peer Health Equity Fund grantee organizations can make a huge community impact and collective difference as we lean into new possibilities within our spheres of influence.

• Tzedek DC

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  DC residents within 400% of federal poverty guidelines

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Drawing from the Jewish teachings of “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof,” or “Justice, justice you shall pursue,” Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with low incomes dealing with the often devastating consequences of abusive debt collection practices and other consumer related issues.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  We are excited to advance economic mobility for DC’s young adults. We will provide financial empowerment training and practice opportunities—including 16 hours of class sessions, $100 in seed capital, and investment account costs for all participants for four years—to strengthen participants’ financial futures. Simultaneously, the project addresses underlying systemic and legal issues that contribute to DC's racial wealth gap by impeding economic mobility in the first place.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  We have learned that 80% of determinants of health are non-clinical. Therefore, by promoting economic health, our work also directly advances the Fund’s ultimate purpose of health equity. One particular highlight is that, thanks to our advocacy efforts, the DC government invested public dollars to fund the cancellation of about $42 million of medical debt for more than 62,000 District of Columbia residents. This investment has made DC the first state-level government to invest in the large-scale purchase and cancellation of medical debt. Over 80 percent of residents benefiting from the cancellation live in zip codes that are majority Black or community members of color.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  We look forward to helping residents to live as full economic citizens by keeping money in the household or earning more income—leading, in turn, to better health outcomes as a result of economic stability.

• Generation Hope

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We serve teen parents pursuing college degrees and their families across the DC region, including all eight wards of DC as well as Northern Virginia and Maryland.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  To ensure all student parents have the opportunities to succeed, experience economic mobility, and build wealth, Generation Hope engages education and policy partners to drive systemic change and provides direct support to teen parents in college as well as their children through holistic, two-generation programming.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  Funding from the Health Equity Fund ensures that we can support 175 Scholars, the largest class of teen parents we have served in our history, wrapping supports including mentorship and mental health support around them and their families as they walk the path to the graduation stage. Through this support, young student parents who experience significant barriers to economic mobility will have the opportunity to achieve their college degrees and obtain family-sustaining careers.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  The last few years have taught us that families on the fringes are the hardest hit in a global crisis and an economic downturn. At the same time, we learned that coming together in big and bold ways that challenge the status quo and shed light on injustices helps parents and their children not just survive but thrive.

  Over the last two years, Generation Hope supported 313 teen parents and their families across the DC region. Overall, 84% of Scholars are persisting in their studies and moving forward toward graduation and we celebrated 55 degrees earned over the last two years. Across fourteen years of service, 91% of Generation Hope Scholar Alumni living in the DC region report being employed full time and/or enrolled in a graduate studies program within 6 months of graduating and 92% of Alumni report an income above the federal poverty line 6 months after graduation.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  Fewer than 2% of teen mothers earn a college degree before age 30, and more than half of all parenting college students leave school without a degree. Generation Hope is committed to changing these statistics one family and one system at a time. Our Scholars are graduating at a rate on par with all college students regardless of parenting status and going on to obtain family-sustaining careers, build wealth, and make powerful impacts in their fields as well as using their voices and stories to drive policies that accelerate the economic and social mobility of parenting college students and their families nationwide.

• Rising For Justice

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  District Wide

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.

  Rising for Justice (RFJ) leverages the collective forces of students and experienced advocates to achieve justice for all. RFJ believes that everyone deserves justice – today, tomorrow, and always – while also recognizing that the justice system is overburdened, underfunded, and inaccessible to many.

  We believe that together, we can do better.

  To prevent injustices today, we represent individuals who are in grave legal jeopardy.

  To build a better tomorrow, we teach law students to be life-long advocates for justice.

  To ensure justice always, we innovate sustainable solutions to problems of justice and equity.

  Since its founding, RFJ has protected the rights of more than 250,000 District of Columbia residents and trained almost 4,000 social justice advocates.

  What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?

  Rising for Justice is excited about the Health Equity Fund allowing us to continue to work with D.C. residents to clear their criminal and arrest records.  RFJ attorneys and social workers will work side by side to provide holistic support, addressing the legal and social barriers our clients face. By helping residents clear their records, we aim to remove the stigma of a criminal past, opening doors to opportunities that promote financial stability, personal dignity, and healthier lives. This funding will enable us to extend these life-changing services to more individuals, fostering a more just and equitable community.

  For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.

  Over the past two years, we have filed motions to seal over 1,000 arrest and conviction records for D.C. residents. We’ve learned that there remains a tremendous amount of work ahead. Due to D.C.'s restrictive record-sealing laws, any individual over 18 who has been arrested has a publicly accessible record until they take action to file a motion to seal it. Rising for Justice has realized that the most effective way to create lasting impact is by partnering with other organizations, amplifying our collective efforts to increase economic mobility and improve opportunities for D.C. residents. Together, we can achieve greater reach and provide more robust support to those in need.

  What excites you about the future for your community?

  What excites me about the future for our community is the growing momentum toward equity and justice. I see more collaboration among organizations and a shared commitment to breaking down systemic barriers that have long held our residents back. The increasing focus on providing holistic support—combining legal assistance with social services—offers real hope for empowering individuals to achieve economic stability, better health outcomes, and a brighter future. I’m inspired by the resilience and determination of the people we serve, and I’m optimistic that, together, we can build a more just and equitable community for all.

The Partnership to End Homelessness Welcomes New Members to Partnership Leadership Council

This past year, the Partnership to End Homelessness welcomed five new members to its Leadership Council - a group of committed, private sector individuals representing foundations, housing developers and owners, healthcare institutions, and universities who are dedicated to ending homelessness in DC.

The Leadership Council has three primary objectives: 1) Engage private-sector stakeholders and networks in work to end homelessness and increase housing stability in DC; 2) Provide financial investment and other resources to support the strategic priorities of the Partnership to End Homelessness; and 3) Participate in budget advocacy, policy advocacy, and public narrative change efforts using personal and professional networks.

Since the Partnership launched, the Leadership Council has been instrumental in our work to align $18.5 million in private sector resources and joined our nonprofit partners in advocating for historic public sector investments in homeless services and affordable and supportive housing.

The new members of the Partnership Leadership Council include - Anand Dholakia, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation; Kimberly Harris, CareFirst BlueCross Blueshield; Alecia Hill, FCP; Dr. Yavar Moghimi, AmeriHealth Caritas; and Andrew Vincent, Horning Brothers.

Shaping the Future for the Partnership to End Homelessness

Together with new and existing members, the Leadership Council gathered to reflect on the Partnership’s progress to date and determine where the Partnership should prioritize our efforts over the next two years.

Through this process, members reaffirmed their commitment to the Partnership’s overall goals and guiding principles, including racial equity and deeply affordable housing.

Leaders also committed to continuing to provide a table for the private sector to share knowledge with and learn from our public sector partners, nonprofit service providers, and advocates about homelessness and affordable housing issues in DC and best practices and innovations to address them.

In order to have the greatest impact, the Leadership Council made the decision to focus on a limited set of strategic priorities.  Based on a needs analysis, community feedback, and potential for future impact, the following priorities were identified:

1. Expedite housing placement for people experiencing chronic homelessness. The Leadership Council expressed an urgent need to expedite the process for people experiencing chronic homelessness to move into housing. Currently, delays in the process lead to units sitting empty for many months, creating financial challenges for landlords and housing providers while people continue to live on the street or in shelters.

   The Leadership Council and the Partnership will continue to advance this priority through advocacy, grant funding, and convening.

2. Improve care coordination between healthcare and homeless service systems. Housing insecurity is a public health issue that impacts health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness and drives up healthcare costs for the broader system. Healthcare and housing systems are complex, and significant coordination is needed to address the unique challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness - many of whom have significant mental health and physical health needs.

   The Leadership Council and Partnership will support existing efforts to improve collaboration that are being led by our partners at the DC Interagency Council to End Homelessness. The Council has also identified a specific interest in expanding medical respite in the city.

Are you a private sector leader, individual donor, or institutional funder interested in joining this work? The Partnership Leadership Council is always seeking for new ways to partner and build relationships to help end homelessness in DC. Reach out to Jennifer Olney at jolney@thecommunityfoundation.org to learn more.

Accelerating DC's Community Safety Ecosystem

Kirby Gaherty, Senior Fellow of Community Safety & Harm Reduction outlines the impact of Community Violence Intervention (CVI) intiatives.

On September 18, philanthropic partners, business leaders, city government representatives and advocates for community safety from across the region convened at the True Reformer Building to discuss ways to promote and sustain community safety. Co-hosted by The Community Foundation and Public Welfare Foundation, the event explored the need for increased coordination and planning around violence prevention and intervention. 

“DC is known to be resource rich and infrastructure poor,” The Community Foundation’s President & CEO, Tonia Wellons shared. “We are here today to reimagine what that infrastructure of violence prevention looks like.” 

Participants first heard from Kirby Gaherty, Senior Fellow of Community Safety & Harm Reduction, as she outlined the four phases in the Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention, which include: 1) Define & Monitor the Problem, 2) Identify Risk & Protective Focus, 3) Develop & Test Protective Strategies, and 4) Assure Widespread Adoption. 

She also shared outcomes from other Community Violence Intervention (CVI) initiatives that have been implemented nationally as a way to increase coordination between governmental and nonprofit partners toward safety.  

Candice Jones, President & CEO of Public Welfare Foundation

“For too long, nonprofit organizations have been in the trenches; doing the hard work and putting their lives on the frontlines of this battle to keep our communities safe,” Candice Jones, President & CEO of Public Welfare Foundation shared.  

“As funders and business leaders, we have a responsibility to step up and invest in the well-being and public safety of the neighborhoods we live and do business in.” 

After Jones, participants heard from Kristy Love, Executive Director of the DC Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC). Love is responsible for www.dcjsat.net – a public database which tracks safety data in the District. –  This data is key in addressing both national and local media attention on crime, violence and safety in DC. 

Love shared a number of insightful statistics that helped participants better understand the state of public safety, as well as the risk factors and trends that researchers have noticed amongst those most likely to be impacted by violence. 

Income Statistics about CVI Participants with Peace for DC (Image: Peace for DC)

Neighborhood Statistics about CVI Participants with Peace for DC (Image: Peace for DC)

Participants also heard from Marcus Ellis, Executive Director of Peace For DC, the organization behind the DC Peace Academy and other efforts to train violence interrupters in the region. 

“As we talk about what’s working and not working in DC – we need a plan to ensure that CVI efforts can continue to do the good work that they’re doing in our community,” Ellis shared.  

Referencing decades past when funding for CVI efforts was discontinued in the District, he added, “The work must go on – we’ve already seen the impacts of not  having CVI as part of our ecosystem.” 

Dr. Joseph Richardson stresses the need for CVI coordination across jurisdictions.

Invited attendees – such as Dr. Joseph Richardson, who leads PROGRESS, the multidisciplinary gun violence research initiative at the University of Maryland – were quick to point out the need for CVI to be inclusive and coordinated both within DC and across the region.  

“40% of gun violence fatalities in DC last year weren’t from DC,” Dr. Richardson pointed out. “They were from Prince George’s County.”  

“Death does not have boundaries; violence does not have boundaries. We need new approaches that go beyond jurisdictions and provide more holistic solutions.” 

“I’d like to see this work be built into the code that transcends not only political administrations, but philanthropic leadership,” shared David Bowers, Vice President and Senior Advisor for Enterprise Community Partners. “We need CVI work to be codified so that it’s no longer a question of whether or not this work gets funded – it’ll just be a part of how we do business in this city.” 

“Until we are able to make sure the funding is consistent, this work will always be at risk.” 

David Bowers, VP and Senior Advisor for Enterprise Community Partners

 Tonia Wellons concluded the discussion by sharing  opportunities to be a part of  the “Core Team” – a group of philanthropic, government, and community partners who will come together around a strategy to advance DC’s Community Safety ecosystem. Like the Partnership to End Homelessness, this group will allow stakeholders to come together to influence local action, fund the infrastructure and drive strategy around this critical issue.  

The Community Foundation, Public Welfare Foundation, Peace For DC and  Federal City Council are committed members of the Core Team.  

“We invite you to join with us in expanding the tent – bringing voices to the table and crafting a plan for a region where everyone can not only live safe but can thrive.” 

Over the next few months, The Community Foundation, alongside members of the Core Team, will engage with one another (as well as with broader stakeholder groups) and build the  collaborative table around community safety in DC. Our immediate next steps include analyzing components of local and national violence reduction plans, aligning around a strategy tailored for this region, and through collective action and accountability, move toward the implementation.   

If you or your organization would like to be a part of this important initiative, please contact Kirby Gaherty, Senior Fellow of Community Safety and Harm Reduction at kgaherty@thecommunityfoundation.org  

Introducing Kirby Gaherty, Senior Fellow, Community Safety & Harm Reduction

In June, The Community Foundation shared our continued commitment to building an ecosystem for community safety in the District of Columbia through ongoing investments in youth violence prevention and new strategic partnerships to develop long-term strategies for community safety.

As part of that commitment, we’re excited to introduce our new Senior Fellow of Community Safety & Harm Reduction, Kirby Gaherty, an experienced convener in the realm of community safety who will be spearheading The Community Foundation’s efforts around this important initiative. In this post, Kirby shares her insights and perspectives on how philanthropy can help build a stronger and safer community.

Q: Welcome to The Community Foundation, Kirby! We’re so excited to have you on the team. Can you share with us a bit about your background? Where are you coming from and what inspired you to join The Community Foundation?

Thank you, I am excited to join the team at The Community Foundation. While I am originally from Massachusetts (Go Celtics!), for over fifteen years, I have been working in the safety and justice space in a variety of capacities and in both local and national contexts. Most recently, I led the Justice Initiatives team at the National League of Cities, where I was lucky enough to work with city leaders from across the country in their efforts to reduce jail populations, interrupt violence, and reimagine community safety. Additionally, I built an incredible network of truly remarkable people doing the hard work to create safe communities nationwide.

Prior to that, I was involved in local efforts in both Philadelphia, PA and Camden, NJ in the reentry and young adult justice space. As a part of the team leading the reentry efforts under Mayor Michael Nutter, I was able to work alongside returning citizens and community partners to support those returning from jail and prison in their transition home. That work included supporting the replication of a successful AmeriCorps program for young adults (PowerCorpsPHL) in the City of Camden, NJ.

After spending almost five years working on national issues, I’m excited to dig deeper into the community safety space here in DC. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to accelerate the efforts in Washington, DC to build a collaborative table through the philanthropic lens. The Greater Washington Community Foundation’s commitment to a safer DC is inspiring and I’m excited for the challenge and opportunity ahead.

Q: What does it mean to you to reimagine community safety? What does a community-centered approach to safety look like?

In reimagining community safety and centering people -- particularly those most impacted by systemic harm and violence- we have an opportunity to create what Cities United calls ‘Safe, Healthy & Hopeful’ communities.

Traditionally, when we talk about safety and justice – nationally – the conversation focuses on policing, courts, and carceral systems. However, these narratives often overlook decades of work by Black and Brown community leaders – Black women in particular-- who have tirelessly been advancing community safety solutions without proper investment or support. The impact of the work of these incredible leaders is immeasurable and too often understated, under resourced, and undervalued.

However, over the last several years, increased awareness, investment, and support of alternatives to traditional safety efforts has allowed for a reimagined vision of the safety ecosystem to emerge – one that is truly community-led and community-focused—and emphasizes appropriate response models and community violence intervention initiatives. This approach is imperative to reimagining safety and building effective city safety ecosystems-- a collective effort to build, support, and sustain relationship-based prevention and intervention models that is led by trusted and credible professionals from the communities that they serve. This recent realization of the longstanding work of community leaders is promising as we look to the future of safety and justice.

Q: How does racial justice factor into a community-centered approach to community safety? How can a more conscientious approach address past obstacles/barriers, while capitalizing on future opportunities for growth?

Racial justice factors into just about everything. In this case, areas where gun violence is more prevalent, are also often areas of historical and systemic divestment, increased police violence, mass incarceration, and redlining. These areas are also disproportionately communities of color. As I mentioned, leaders in these communities have been working tirelessly to address safety in their neighborhoods, but with little support. By adopting a more community-centered approach to safety, the voices and work of these leaders becomes integral to a city’s approach.

Amplification of community-based prevention and intervention efforts is an important step towards a more equitable system of safety. The pervasive distrust of government – formed after years of ongoing harm and trauma -- requires repair and recovery to heal. As we collectively pursue an opportunity for forward movement, it is important to do so intentionally and with great care so we can right past wrongs and build a stronger, more racially equitable community.

Q: In your opinion/experience, what role can philanthropic organizations play in this work? How can this role be more effective and community-centered?

Philanthropy often steps in to support where public dollars fall short. Through investments in research, violence prevention, and more recently, violence intervention, philanthropy has provided the opportunity for community-based safety work to both exist and expand

That being said, the movement toward community safety requires buy-in and support from everyone. If philanthropy in the DC region comes together around a strategy that lives beyond political administrations and creates safer spaces for people to thrive, it will not only be more community centered, but also more sustainable and more effective in the long run.

Q: You’ve spent a lot of your career focusing on returning citizens and engaging justice-impacted young adults. Why do you feel it’s important that community safety initiatives make a concerted effort to invest in and empower these groups?

A big part of embracing new visions of safety requires the ability to know when to listen and uplift others as opposed to leading with your own voice and ideas.

Traditionally, we consider ‘expertise’ as something built by education or professional experiences. While that type of expertise is important, the real subject matter experts on safety and gun violence, are the people that have been directly impacted.

There is no way to advance safety without youth, young adults, returning citizens, and directly impacted people at the table. They need to be leading and driving the work to reimagine community safety. Investing in and empowering these leaders has the ability to shape a more inclusive and impactful ecosystem of safety.

Q: What excites you about the future of this work? What are you most looking forward to?

I am excited to be working on an initiative that is focused on the city I live in. Since moving to DC in 2019, I have wanted to be part of something that impacts my neighbors and community directly. I know that there are incredible local leaders that tirelessly work to reduce violence and uplift community that I cannot wait to see flourish with adequate support and investment.  

Like many cities, DC has a very small percentage of people driving most of the gun violence. But, the impacts and trauma are felt by entire communities. By bringing together leaders from philanthropy, nonprofits, communities, businesses and city entities, we have an opportunity to impact the lives of those most likely to be on either side of a gun and beyond that, the entire city - and that gives me hope for community safety and harm reduction in the region.

Sustainable DC Project: Unleashing the Power of the Green Economy for Communities of Color

DC’s flag may be red and white. However, if you talk to the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) or the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development (CNHED), they’ll tell you that the future of DC is green –specifically green economy.

“The green economy presents an incredible opportunity for our community – not just to help our planet; but also to help the people who live in our communities,” explained Shannan Herbert, CEO of WACIF. “We want to make the planet greener, but we also want to help put more green [dollars] in the hands of communities of color who need and deserve this investment.”

Riding the Green Wave –The Economic Windfall of Net-Zero Energy

Over the past decade, as conversations around environmental and climate concerns have grown increasingly urgent, local governments across the country have made investing in green infrastructure an increasing priority – one that comes with a significant economic impact.

In DC alone, a former Director of the Department of Energy and Environment, predicted that the green economy could grow to become a $8-10 billion industry – as contractors and developers work to not only construct, but also update and retrofit the city’s existing infrastructure to meet its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.

Implementing those plans is expected to create thousands of new jobs in green energy, construction, building maintenance, and other industries — including innumerable opportunities for entrepreneurship and self-employment.

Overcoming the Racial Energy Investment Gap

However, studies show that historically, very few of these opportunities have gone to women or people of color. According to a recent study by the Brookings Institution, less than 20% of workers in clean energy production are women and less than 10% of them are Black.

The study cited a number of barriers including a lack of awareness of the green energy field, but also limited access to the training and resources —such as certification courses, workforce development opportunities, and seed investment—that these groups need to succeed.

“Green energy represents a tremendous economic opportunity,” Steve Glaude, CEO of CNHED shared. “But it requires a lot of money, a lot of resources, and a lot of specialized knowledge to get things started, which is something that many small businesses – especially those owned by women and communities of color – simply don’t have access to.”

“In the push towards net zero emissions, sustainability, and climate resilience, BIPOC-owned and women-owned small businesses are at a competitive disadvantage.”

The Birth of the Sustainable DC Project

From an early stage, CNHED recognized the importance of harnessing the economic impact of the city’s Net-Zero Energy agenda for women and communities of color. A coalition of 180+ nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, CNHED has been actively engaged in community-informed budget and policy advocacy for more than two decades.

“[After DC announced the Net-Zero Energy initiative], my team kept coming to me for the better part of a year – asking for us to get involved in the green economy,” Glaude shared. “But we kept waiting because we wanted to ensure our efforts would have maximum impact.”

The opportunity finally arose when The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund put out a call for “innovative and disruptive ideas to increase the economic mobility and community wealth of DC’s most marginalized communities.”

“We purposely wanted to keep the application open-ended,” Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund shared. “We are not trying to tell our partners what they should do; we are trying to tap into their creativity and innovation to build new partnerships to transform our communities.”

Within a few weeks, WACIF – a leading community development financial institution in the region – reached out to Glaude to brainstorm ways that they could join forces to impact their community. Over the next few months, WACIF and CNHED began to lay out the framework for a new partnering initiative called the Sustainable DC Project.”

“Sustainable DC is designed to help BIPOC and women-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs harness the power of our region’s green economy,” Herbert explained.

The multimillion-dollar project follows a three-pronged approach:

1. Access to Capital – Sustainable DC will provide up to $300K in grants and $2 million in flexible, non-predatory loans to help entrepreneurs obtain the certifications, equipment, and supply chain adjustments to meet rising demands. Sustainable DC will also ensure entrepreneurs can access catalytic ‘green’ investments, including the EPA’s $27B Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and other local and federal resources.

2. Addressing the Readiness Gap – Sustainable DC will provide advisory services to help small businesses navigate the everchanging landscape of regulations, resources, and buyer expectations surrounding the Net-Zero Energy Initiative and the green economy. This information will allow them to quickly adapt their business model and stay at the forefront of economic growth and opportunity.

   Small businesses can also participate in a cohort-based accelerator – giving them access to thousands of hours of business advisory services and technical assistance, as well as a network of their peers.

3. Connecting Businesses to New Opportunities – Sustainable DC will connect small businesses to new local and federal investment opportunities, as well as green supply chains and other major customers that can take their business operations to the next level.

“It’s not enough to invest in the green energy,” Herbert continued. “We need to make sure that small businesses – especially those owned by women and communities of color – are set up for success, by providing them the resources, the knowledge, and the opportunities they need to thrive.”

In addition to investing in small businesses in the green energy and infrastructure space, Sustainable DC will also serve small businesses looking to promote and implement more sustainable business practices, such as the use of sustainable packaging and eco-friendly cleaning products – opening the door for small business owners and entrepreneurs from across the spectrum to participate in this innovative program.

Herbert and Glaude hope that Sustainable DC will become an economic model that can be implemented in cities across the country.

“We want this project to be catalyst for economic growth,” Herbert shared. “The dream is that through Sustainable DC, these small businesses will hire more women; more people of color, and we’ll be able to see a ripple effect of economic growth that will transform our communities.”

“Ten years from now, people will do studies about the impact of Green Energy,” Glaude shared. “I hope that – as a result of what we’re doing here - they can cite Sustainable DC as a model – not just for strategic execution, but for inclusivity and economic justice.”

The Community Foundation is proud to support Sustainable DC and its work through the Health Equity Fund.

The Health Equity Fund was created to improve the health outcomes and health equity of DC residents. The fund is governed by a seven-member Health Equity Committee in partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation. The seven-member committee includes Nnemdi Elias, MD, MPH; Dr. Tollie Elliott; Wendell L. Johns; Lori Kaplan; Juan M. Jara; Kimberly Harris; and Courtney R. Snowden.

For more information about the Health Equity Fund and available funding opportunities, please visit our website!

The NorthStar Institute – Opening the Window of Opportunity for DC’s ALICE Population

For teachers at Academy of Hope and the LAYC Career Academy (Career Academy) – two of the best-known adult charter schools in DC – helping their students succeed in life is about more than just helping them learn; it’s about helping them thrive.

“Ultimately what we want to see is that our students can progress in life,” Lecester Johnson, CEO of Academy of Hope shared. “From getting the degree, to getting the job, to getting stability for their families and – ultimately – getting them into the middle class.”

Unlike some schools, most students enrolled at Academy of Hope and the Career Academy are over the age of 18 – entering the classroom with a wealth of experience and knowledge from their communities. Both schools provide career training and certifications to help students secure jobs in healthcare, IT, and other fields of work.

However, Nicole Hanrahan, co-Founder and Executive Director of the Career Academy says that even with a degree, most of her students are still living on the edge and doing whatever they can to get by.

“It takes more than an entry-level job and an education to get ahead in this city,” Hanrahan explained. “Our communities need access to financial resources and financial advice and guidance to do things like pay off debt, buy a house, or save for retirement, someday.”

Without the resources and knowledge to accrue additional wealth, Hanrahan and Johnson shared that many of their students have been stuck on the proverbial edge – doing just well enough to get by, but not quite well enough to truly get ahead.

The ALICE Barrier

Reports say that the Career Academy and Academy of Hope students aren’t the only ones stuck in this situation. An annual report by the United Way of the National Capital Area (UWNCA) found that nearly 20% of DC’s Residents are considered part of the ALICE population – an acronym for “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed.”

Those within the ALICE population live above the Federal Poverty Line, but below the basic cost of living for their neighborhoods. This often means that they are ineligible for federal assistance programs and are forced to live paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet.

The ALICE population includes 20% of DC’s registered nurses and nearly 40% of the city’s office clerks – and a large percentage of the Career Academy and Academy of Hope’s graduating class. Many of these students may also be struggling with credit card debt and low credit scores – which can impact their ability to access credit with favorable conditions and achieve financial milestones like buying a house.

The ALICE population also includes a sizeable portion of the region’s immigrant population – including many who came to this country from successful careers in medicine, law, and business – but have been unable to obtain the proper certifications or education to continue work in their field.

“The sad thing is that, right now, a lot of our students are stuck in survival mode,” Johnson explained. “They’re not necessarily looking for a career or a dream job – they’re looking for stability – something that will keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables.”

“What we want to do is empower them to dream bigger – to not only provide for their families but also to provide for their future.”

The Power of Financial Well-being

For Jua Williams, a financial services expert with more than 20 years of experience in Corporate Financial Services, the scenario is one he’s seen time and time again. As the co-Founder of NorthStar Institute, Jua works to empower DC residents through expert advice and guidance to build wealth by attaining assets.

“There is power in being able to say ‘I know the system of money and understand how it works’,” Williams shared. “With the right resources and proper planning, you can take a good income and turn it into intergenerational stability.”

“The problem is that most ALICE families don’t have access to the knowledge or the capital to make that happen.”

An opportunity finally arose when The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund put out a call for “innovative and disruptive ideas to increase the economic mobility and community wealth of DC’s most marginalized communities.”

“We quickly recognized that this was an opportunity to build new partnerships that could transform our community,” Williams explained.

Within a few weeks, NorthStar Institute reached out to the Career Academy and Academy of Hope to brainstorm how they could increase access to financial resources for the students they serve. Over the next few months, the three organizations laid the framework for a new financial well-being partnership aimed at closing the racial wealth gap by helping members of the ALICE population turn income into assets.

The multimillion-dollar project follows a multi-faceted approach, which includes:

1. Access to Professional Advisers – Through the partnership will operate onsite at the Career Academy and Academy of Hope to provide financial education programs and access to wealth advisers directly within the academies. This will allow students to ask questions of certified professionals, while learning essential tips for financial planning.

2. Access to Legacy Planning Resources – Whether due to its complexity or a lack of resources, Legacy Planning is often overlooked by ALICE residents – especially those of color. The partnership will allow students access to qualified professionals who will help them navigate the process and retain an asset and build generational wealth.

3. Education Credit and Training Recovery Services – The partnership will provide access to domestic and international studies to help students obtain credits at an institution of higher learning. This will allow students with international degrees to obtain credits towards a new degree or certification.

4. Direct Financial Investment – The partnership will provide direct financial investment to help students achieve their goals. The amount and type of investment will vary depending on the goal of the individual and can include credit card payments, a down payment on a home, or other form of investment. In addition, all students will receive a stipend to provide them with some financial stability while they finish their studies.

One unique aspect of this project, Hanrahan says, is that it will not only serve past and current students at both the Career Academy and Academy of Hope, but also staff members – many of whom are also living in the ALICE population.

“Financial wealth building is something that should be accessible to everyone,” she added. “That includes many members of our staff, as well.”

She pointed out how some of her staff are immigrants with professional certifications in different countries but due to systemic barriers, they are unable to practice in the US.

“This program will provide us an opportunity to right that wrong and help them progress in their respective careers.”

Building a Legacy

“Having this kind of service come from us – two trusted organizations working in this community – will go such a long way towards helping our students, who may not have had the opportunity to learn these valuable lessons at home,” Lecester Johnson added, speaking from personal experience.

Born into a family of Southern farmers, Johnson shared how, growing up, her father harbored a deep distrust of financial and banking institutions – a protective reaction to decades of racial discrimination and discriminatory banking practices that were common during the Jim Crow era. As a result, Johnson was forced to learn the ropes of financial investing on her own – relying on trusted friends and mentors to help her plan financially for her future.

“Trust is one of the biggest barriers to helping people take that next financial step,” Williams shared. “You have to really connect with the individual – hear their goals, their dreams, their aspirations – and then take these financial principles and explain them in a way that is relatable and culturally competent but also see where it all fits in the bigger picture.”

Part of that bigger picture includes legacy planning – a major area for improvement amongst the ALICE population – especially communities of color. According to a recent survey, less than 30% of Black Americans in the US have a current will. Countless others may be named as beneficiaries and inherit but feel overwhelmed by the legal complexities and tax requirements to take full advantage.

“When you inherit, it can sometimes be seen as more of a burden than a blessing,” Williams added. “This partnership will provide students with access to professional legacy planners who can help them navigate the experience and set themselves up for success.”

However, partners say the factor they expect will have the biggest impact is the direct financial investment.

“Money really does matter,” Johnson shared. “We’re excited to offer investment at a level where it will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Over the next three years, we look forward to tracking the outcomes and seeing how far people are able to progress.”

“I believe this partnership will have a significant impact on DC residents and shifting the ALICE population into the middle class – not just in DC,” Williams added. “One day, we’ll hopefully be able to see this initiative become a blueprint that can be modeled in cities across the country.”

The Community Foundation is proud to support The NorthStar Institute and its work through the Health Equity Fund.

The Health Equity Fund was created to improve the health outcomes and health equity of DC residents. The fund is governed by a seven-member Health Equity Committee in partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation. The seven-member committee includes Nnemdi Elias, MD, MPH; Dr. Tollie Elliott; Wendell L. Johns; Lori Kaplan; Juan M. Jara; Kimberly Harris; and Courtney R. Snowden.

For more information about the Health Equity Fund and available funding opportunities, please visit our website!

Greater Washington Community Foundation Announces $8.7 Million in Grants to Transform Health Equity in DC

The Health Equity Fund at the Greater Washington Community Foundation has announced $8.7 million in multiyear investments in two transformative projects focused on collaborative approaches to increasing economic mobility and wealth building. These investments will support innovative community-based projects working to advance health equity and create better outcomes for more DC residents.

Given that 80 percent of DC’s health outcomes are driven by social, economic, and other factors, compared to just 20 percent by clinical care, the Fund adopted an economic mobility strategy to address the root causes that are causing health challenges in the first place. Its strategy is designed to achieve health equity for all DC residents by addressing the social and structural determinants of health that impact health outcomes including education, employment, income, housing, transportation, nutrition, environmental safety, medical care, culture and recreation, and more.

“Mindful that health and wealth are inextricably linked, we believe that achieving health equity requires more than improving individual health outcomes and expanding access to services,” said Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “Our intent is to disrupt the societal factors shaped by centuries of laws, public policies, and practices that have worked together to produce the disparate outcomes we see today. With this announcement, the Health Equity Fund is taking a bold step toward reshaping how philanthropy can help address long-standing health inequities.”

“At CareFirst, we understand that health is shaped by factors outside of clinical settings. That's why we are dedicated to supporting local organizations that are working to reduce health disparities and promote equity," said Brian D. Pieninck, President and CEO of CareFirst. "The Health Equity Fund, in collaboration with the District, exemplifies our commitment to addressing the social drivers of health impacting individuals and communities in Washington, DC. With this latest round of grants, we aim to empower these organizations to continue their essential work, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy life, regardless of their socioeconomic status."

The $95 million Health Equity Fund is one of the largest philanthropic funds of any kind focused on community-based nonprofits that serve District residents. Since 2022, the Fund has awarded nearly $22 million in grants to 52 nonprofit organizations with a focus on programs that increase economic mobility and wealth building, advance health advocacy, policy, and systems change initiatives, and support community-based strategies to prevent gun violence and increase public safety.

"This $8.7 million Health Equity Fund award represents an innovative advancement in our mission to foster economic mobility and wealth building. By channeling resources into projects that prioritize these goals, we are directly supporting Mayor Bowser's vision to empower District residents and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed,” said Karima Woods, Commissioner for the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking.

The Fund’s latest investments will support five nonprofit organizations working collaboratively over a three-year period to implement innovative and disruptive demonstration projects. The intent is to strategically invest in bold new methods or types of services to demonstrate feasibility and determine the potential for scaling evidencebased strategies to build wealth for people and communities with the greatest economic and health disparities.

The projects were reviewed and selected by Community Foundation staff, external reviewers with subject matter expertise, and members of the Health Equity Committee. Additional funding for several other transformative demonstration projects will be announced in the fall.

Selected projects include:

WASHINGTON AREA COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND AND THE COALITION FOR NONPROFIT HOUSING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Wacif and CNHED have partnered on a 3-year strategy to help BIPOC and women-owned small businesses grow and build resilience while combating climate change, by participating in the region’s burgeoning green economy. The project will help small businesses implement sustainable practices by offering 1,000 entrepreneurs with access to flexible capital through a mix of grants and loans, capacity building and technical assistance, and one-on-one business advising and group training. Entrepreneurs will participate in new accelerator programs tailored for green economy businesses and designed to connect businesses with sustainability-focused procurement opportunities with DC area anchor institutions.

NORTHSTAR INSTITUTE, LATIN AMERICAN YOUTH CENTER CAREER ACADEMY AND ACADEMY OF HOPE ADULT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

NorthStar, AoH, and LAYCCA have partnered on a 3-year integrated program for 2,500 students who are asset-limited, income-constrained, and also employed (A.L.I.C.E.) to set them on a path to financial independence. The program will offer high-quality education and job training for adult learners to pursue industry credentials and career advancement, combined with courses on Financial Well-Being and Money Management. Participants will receive dedicated access to a wealth advisor and financial planner for expert advice and guidance on homeownership, entrepreneurship, savings, investments, and legacy planning. The program will provide additional cash assistance to ensure participants can achieve their goals of savings, homeownership, business startup or investment capital.

About the Health Equity Fund

The Health Equity Fund was created to improve the health outcomes and health equity of DC residents. The fund is governed by a seven-member Health Equity Committee in partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation. The seven-member committee includes Nnemdi Elias, MD, MPH; Dr. Tollie Elliott; Wendell L. Johns; Lori Kaplan; Juan M. Jara; Kimberly Harris; and Courtney R. Snowden.

For more information about the Health Equity Fund and available funding opportunities, please visit our website!

Building an Ecosystem for Community Safety in the District of Columbia

How we’re combining grants, strategic planning, and the power of collaboration to address gun violence

By Melen Hagos & Tonia Wellons

Earlier this week, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a declaration that many in the Greater Washington region have known and recognized for decades – gun violence is a national public health crisis.

“It is up to us to take on this generational challenge with the urgency and clarity the moment demands,” the Surgeon General wrote in the 40-page report. “The safety and well-being of our children and future generations are at stake.”

FROM THE NATIONAL NEWS TO THE LOCAL STREETS

In our region, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has long been committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our local residents – particularly those most at risk – and has been at the forefront of efforts to prevent and respond to gun violence.

We acknowledge that while the issue of gun violence and public safety impacts everyone, there are those in our region who unjustly bear its impact more profoundly than others. Our most recent VoicesDMV report revealed that while everyone in our region deserves to feel safe and welcome in their communities, not everyone does.

Our work to achieve community safety and harm reduction – both across our region and in those areas most impacted – is one of the many ways we honor our commitment and work to create a just, equitable, and thriving community. With strong partnerships and expert guidance from national organizations like the Public Welfare Foundation, we have made a substantial impact over the years. Here are some key examples of our accomplishments:

In partnership with the District government, in 2013, we established a relief fund to aid victims and families affected by the Navy Yard shooting and to address long-term gun violence and mental health issues.

From 2013-2018, the Greater Washington Community Foundation partnered with the District Government and served as administrator of The City Fund, investing $15 million over five years as part of the District’s overall public safety and violence prevention agenda. This effort successfully spanned two political administrations—initially under Mayor Vincent Gray’s One City Action Plan and later repositioned under Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Safer Stronger Initiative.

In 2018, The Community Foundation mobilized local funders to support the implementation of Cure the Streets – a pilot program based on the Cure Violence methodology that worked to better understand the causes of gun violence in specific DC neighborhoods and empower local community organizations to be part of the solution.

More recently, we partnered with the Federal City Council and Peace for DC to host Stopping the Cycle of Violence, a community forum that explored proven solutions from across the country and the roles business and philanthropy leaders play in public safety.

LEADING WITH INTENTIONALITY & COLLABORATION

At The Community Foundation, we acknowledge it’s not enough to merely respond to community violence. Rather, it requires intentional coordination and strategic collaboration with community, local government, and philanthropic partners to proactively address the root causes and build stronger, safer communities.

As a result, we have made strategic decisions to support the development and funding of a comprehensive strategy aimed at enhancing harm reduction efforts in DC. Including:

HIRING A SENIOR FELLOW, COMMUNITY SAFETY & HARM REDUCTION

In partnership with the Public Welfare Foundation, we have hired a Senior Fellow for Community Safety and Harm Reduction. This full-time role is designed to provide leadership for the strategy and coordination of a cohesive and coordinated approach to community safety and harm reduction in the District of Columbia. We look forward to introducing the Fellow to you next month.

PARTICIPATING IN CF LEADS GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION NETWORK

The Community Foundation was selected from community foundations nationwide to participate in the CF Leads Gun Violence Prevention Network. Through this year-long initiative, we will get to learn from leading experts and other foundations to help us catalyze and expand local gun violence prevention efforts by learning and adapting best practices from across the country. We are excited to collaborate with Peace for DC and the DC Office of the Attorney General as we take the opportunity to listen to and learn from each other and all the organizations involved in this important work.

MAKING INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH AND SAFETY

Months before the Surgeon General’s announcement, our Health Equity Fund recognized the connection between the increase in crime and violence in the District and the Fund’s objective to address the social and structural determinants of health.

In March 2024, the Fund committed to making $1 million in matching grants in partnership with the DC Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Neighborhood Engagement and Safety to address youth violence prevention through trauma-informed services, conflict and dispute resolution, mental health and wellbeing, and by assisting families dealing with the grief and trauma caused by these occurrences of violence.

BUILDING NEW STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

In the coming months, we look forward to sharing more about a new strategic partnership that will seek to establish a coordinated body which spans political administrations to develop a long-term strategy for community safety, create a plan for implementation with accountability measures throughout, and establish best practices to align investments across philanthropy, government, and business for maximum impact.

Stay tuned for more details!

We are convinced that philanthropy, especially through community foundations, is ideally positioned to lead a unified response initiative, collaborating with local government, philanthropic entities, and community leaders.

We would love you to join us in this work to promote the overall safety and well-being of residents of the District of Columbia. Please contact us to learn more or get involved in this work.

Leaders of the Future: Building & Empowering Safer and Stronger Communities

In March 2024, The Community Foundation awarded $1 million in grants to organizations from across DC to help promote peacemakers who are working to empower children, youth and adults to build stronger, safer communities. These investments were made in partnership with the DC Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement.

In honor of Gun Violence Prevention Month, The Community Foundation is excited to highlight the work and mission of these incredible organizations and the impact that they've had in empowering and uplifting their respective communities.

• Horton's Kids

  1) Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We currently serve the Wellington Park, Stanton Oaks and Hunter Place communities.

  2) In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Horton’s Kids empowers children growing up in DC’s most under-resourced communities so that they graduate from high school ready for success in college, career, and life. We serve 600 children and their families living in Wellington Park & Stanton Oaks – neighborhoods that have been profoundly impacted by decades of disinvestment and barriers to opportunity.

  3) How does your organization help build a stronger, safer community?

  Horton's Kids has a close partnership with the property management company of both properties that we serve and we have biweekly meetings that have a strong focus on the safety of the residents. Members of property security as well as MPD are also present during these meetings.

  4) How does your organization involve and empower community members in the work that you do? Please help us understand how this is important to your work.

  Horton's Kids is committed to involving and empowering community members in various ways. We understand that the perspectives, experiences, and feedback of community members are invaluable for creating a safe community for them. Some of the ways we involve the community members in the work we do is by creating opportunities for them to volunteer as well providing job opportunities. We also have an active Parent Advisory Council that assists us in making sure our parent's and community member's voices are heard and well respected. We understand that by involving community members in our processes, we build trust and accountability. Community involvement fuels innovation by tapping into the collective expertise and creativity of diverse stakeholders. By empowering community members to contribute to our work, we unlock new ideas, approaches, and opportunities for positive societal impact.

  5) What excites you about the future for youth in your community?

  We're excited about the process. A lot of times people fall in love with the outcome whereas we've learned to fall in love with the entire process because there are so many learning opportunities for us all to learn from but that only comes when you go through the entire process.

  6) As a leader, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  Horton's Kids' dreams and aspirations for the future is for our participants, their parents and other community members to have a safe environment where everyone feels connected and everyone is moving on one accord toward the goal of peace and prosperity.

• Negotiation Works

  1) Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We provide our services in the metropolitan Washington, DC area and surrounding areas in Virginia and Maryland. We serve individuals living in all eight Wards of DC, with a particular focus on Wards 7 and 8.

  2) In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Negotiation Works provides negotiation and self-advocacy training for people emerging from difficult and often traumatic situations–such as incarceration, homelessness, addiction, and domestic violence–so they develop the skills to navigate everyday challenges and live the next chapters in their lives confidently and productively.

  3) How does your organization help build a stronger, safer community?

  We help build a stronger, safer community by teaching negotiation skills classes to people coming out of homelessness, incarceration, domestic violence, and other challenging life situations. Our curriculum addresses foundational negotiation strategies and self-advocacy skills, such as perspective-taking, identifying both parties’ interests, brainstorming potential solutions, crafting alternatives to negotiated agreements, active listening, and communicating effectively. The individuals who complete the Negotiation Works classes become better equipped to work through the daily frustrations that might otherwise fester and then escalate into gun or other violence. More broadly, when community members have the confidence and commitment to listen to one another, learn each other’s perspectives, and work alongside one another, they can--collectively--sort through their differences in a non-violent manner and contribute to the upward trajectory of the community as a whole.

  4) How does your organization involve and empower community members in the work that you do? Please help us understand how this is important to your work.

  We engage all our participants in shaping our curriculum. We solicit feedback from program participants about how the role plays and scenarios we use resonate with them and what uses they find in their own lives to implement negotiation strategies. We examine this input with an eye toward either making modifications to our existing scenarios or developing new ones.
  
  Participants who complete the Negotiation Works program are invited to become Ambassadors, an ongoing learning and service community for former class participants with opportunities to serve as informal advisors to Negotiation Works, problem-solving consultants to one another, and role models in the community as effective conflict resolvers and self-advocates. The Ambassadors influence the content, scope, and reach of our work. Their lived experience and stories offer invaluable contributions to how we shape the curriculum, leading us--for example--to provide more scenarios dealing with how returning citizens might negotiate for housing, or work through difficult situations in the workplace. Finally, they are beginning to develop their own dispute resolution programs for youth, through which they seek to teach negotiation strategies to youth, using their experiences to model how to work through conflicts by engaging in conversation, rather than by arguing or, worse, picking up a gun. Their influence is limitless as they spread their problem-solving skills in their families, workplaces, and broader communities.

  5) What excites you about the future for youth in your community?

  We see unlimited potential in youth in our Negotiation Works community. They want to play a role in strengthening their communities, and we are excited about supporting them on their journeys.

  6) As a leader, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  My dream is to foster stronger, more resilient communities by sharing conflict resolution, problem-solving, and self-advocacy skills everywhere. When the members of a community have the tools to advocate for themselves and negotiate with each other, they are better able to achieve shared goals, create lasting relationships, and improve the stability of the community as a whole.

• BEST Kids

  1)  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We primarily serve at-risk youth residing in Wards 4, 5, 7, and 8.

  2)  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  BEST Kids empowers youth who are in foster care and at-risk to build healthy and successful futures through mentoring, college and career readiness, and life skills programs. We aim to ensure that youth who are in foster care or at-risk are meaningfully connected to positive adults and provided with the tools to feel confident and valued and placed on a path to achieve success as adults.

  3)  How does your organization help build a stronger, safer community?

  Through regular engagement with positive adult mentors, access to academic resources, career readiness skills, cultural and recreational experiences, leadership opportunities, and mental health support, as well as providing that key stability to support our youth over the long term, BEST Kids addresses the systemic challenges and mitigates the risk factors associated with violence. Our program provides evidence-based solutions to equip our youth with the tools necessary to thrive as successful adults and become youth violence prevention advocates, which in turn will help to build stronger families and create safer communities.

  4)  How does your organization involve and empower community members in the work that you do? Please help us understand how this is important to your work.

  Community engagement and centering the voice of our youth is a critical element of our organization. We understand that involving the youth we serve in our decision making and programming is vital to the long-term sustainability of our program. The BEST Kids mentor relationship is set up to encourage our youth to name their goals, develop their unique identity, and explore their own potential. In 2020, we created the Youth Leadership Council, a group of mentees who meet bi-monthly to share ideas on how to improve programming and amplify the impact of our organization. Their participation and input have helped us to glean the issues and services that matter to them the most, allowing us to identify improvements and additions to our program. In addition, YLC members build their confidence and leadership skills by speaking and advocating before community leaders charged with making decisions that affect youth experiences in the child welfare system. By providing them with the opportunity to be better and do better, then we are succeeding in our mission of helping to build healthy and successful futures for foster and at-risk youth in the Washington, DC community.

  5)  What excites you about the future for youth in your community?

  The foster and at-risk youth we serve are incredibly resilient people. They face tremendous challenges and trauma on a daily basis, yet by equipping them with the necessary tools, resources and exposure to positive opportunities that may not otherwise be available to them, we are placing them on a path to thrive and become the best version of themselves. Through our interaction and engagement with our youth, we see them taking the limits off what they thought was possible and embracing their futures with confidence, resilience, and tenacity.

  6) As a leader, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  As a leader, my dreams and aspirations for the future revolve around creating a safer, more peaceful community where every individual feels secure and valued. I envision a world where our collective efforts to prevent violence result in tangible, lasting change, fostering environments where our children can grow up without fear and our neighborhoods can thrive with mutual respect and support. I am committed to empowering our community with the resources, education, mentorship, and support needed to break the cycle of violence. By providing mentorship, we can guide and inspire our youth to reach their full potential and become positive role models for others. Through continued collaboration and innovation, I hope we can build a foundation of hope and resilience that will inspire future generations to cultivate a place of peace and unity.

• The T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project

  1)  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We serve all of DC

  2) In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  We are preventing gun violence through the intersectionality of positive youth development and public health.

  3) How does your organization help build a stronger, safer community?

  We provide economic opportunities to all youth that we serve and encounter as the CDC reports that economic opportunity is a protective factor that lessens the likelihood of youth violence victimization and perpetration.

  4)  How does your organization involve and empower community members in the work that you do? Please help us understand how this is important to your work.

  The T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project recognizes that the communities that we serve already possess the power necessary to prevent the spread of gun violence. In this light, we include them in our vision and strategy as experts. We inform our people on how to address gun violence through a public health lens as education is the first step to transformation and systemic reform.

  5)  What excites you about the future for youth in your community?

  We are most excited that our youth are the long-term plan and approach to preventing future gun violence from spreading. Working with our youth, as leaders of today, equips them to design and implement the sustainable strategies necessary to see a world present in health equity and absent from gun violence.

  6)  As a leader, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  We envision a world absent from the disease of gun violence led by public health voices.

• Mother's Outreach Network

  1) Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We serve residents citywide, with a special focus on communities with high concentrations of poverty in wards 5, 6, 7 and 8.

  2) In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Our mission is to engage Black mothers in the struggle for family preservation through transformation of family and government laws, policies and practices from punitive to empowering.

  3) How does your organization help build a stronger, safer community?

  We use the following power building strategies for system’s transformation: Community engagement, research, and mobilization; policy advocacy; and legal information, representation and other programs.

  4) How does your organization involve and empower community members in the work that you do? Please help us understand how this is important to your work.

  Our organization engages community members through training, engagement in policy advocacy, and uplifting their voices to speak truth to, and push the levers of power. Our community engagement, research, and mobilization center the expertise of the community. We show up to support community members in visioning change, crafting solutions and advancing them in the local legislative and executive branches as we seek to defend them and shrink carceral systems that ensnare their families.

  5) What excites you about the future for youth in your community?

  We believe strong families build strong futures for youth and their communities. We are excited about building a guaranteed income with a future of economic security for families where youth can grow and thrive and focus on supporting one another. If we pass policies like guaranteed income for youth, which is possible in the capital of the wealthiest nation on earth, their futures and those of their communities, will be secure and free of violence.

  6) As a leader, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  I want to see the elimination of poverty in the District of Columbia through a guaranteed income. We’d like to strengthen the existing safety net and to build new ones. we seek to do so through continued power building and strategic partnerships and execution!

• Paso Nuevo - GALA Hispanic Theatre

  1) Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Paso Nuevo serves youths from DC, with most students coming from the Columbia Heights neighborhood where the theatre is located, Mount Pleasant, Adams Morgan, Petworth, U Street, Brightwood, and Sixteenth Street Heights.

  2) In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Paso Nuevo is a community-based performing arts program that provides low-income and multicultural youth with critical life and job skills in a creative, bilingual environment. Through Paso Nuevo, Latino youth ages 14-19 have a safe space in which to explore and take pride in their linguistic and cultural heritage, improve literacy and communication skills in both English and Spanish, discover their creative voice, gain valuable academic and job skills, and develop the tools necessary to engage more successfully in their schools and communities.

  3) How does your organization help build a stronger, safer community?

  GALA Theatre provides a safe space for students to gather after school and during the summer, offering various performing-arts classes, technical training, and mentoring. Through participation in the arts, students in Paso Nuevo explore their cultures and identities and grow their academic skills and self-confidence. After training in several areas of theater, including artistic and technical fields, students engage in volunteer and work opportunities, gaining the leadership skills they need to advocate for themselves, their families, and their community. With internships and stipends, Paso Nuevo provides students an immediate economic benefit, as well as the experience and life skills to improve their short- and long-term career prospects, while imbuing in them a sense of commitment to the surrounding area. Students also learn techniques to manage day-to-day issues that may arise at home, school or in the community through conflict resolution sessions and meet with MPD officers to foster improved relations with the police. Three times a year participants present a free bilingual performance for the surrounding community.

  4) How does your organization involve and empower community members in the work that you do? Please help us understand how this is important to your work.

  GALA Hispanic Theatre’s free Paso Nuevo afterschool program draws in students from around DC to participate in arts classes, technical training, and mentoring. GALA also invites community members to free Paso Nuevo performances on its mainstage at the end of the Winter, Spring and Summer sessions. The public is engaged in a talkback with students, who share their experiences in the program. The theater also opens its doors to families in January for Three Kings Day, with a nativity procession and play, music, dance, live animals, and free gifts for all children. Additionally, Paso Nuevo students lead the community in a free public celebration of Day of the Dead in the Columbia Heights green.

  In the area of community safety, Paso Nuevo students survey and interview community members about their experiences of crime and violence and their opinions on solutions, while sharing safety information through podcasts and social media. GALA also collaborates with other community organizations throughout the year, and hosts free community events. Sharing Latino theater and the arts with the youth in our afterschool programs and the surrounding community is central to GALA’s mission of promoting and preserving Hispanic culture and heritage.

  5) What excites you about the future for youth in your community?

  It is thrilling to see how this generation of youth is so actively engaged in social issues and understands that the problems that affect any group impact us all. Their passionate pursuit of information and their persistence in holding power to account are promising indicators of the progress toward equity and opportunity they will spearhead in DC.

  6) As a leader, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  I hope to see GALA Theatre and the arts continue their role in deepening our youths’ understanding of themselves, their empathy with others, and their pride in their culture and its place in the wider community.

• DC Police Foundation

  1) Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  The Foundation supports and coordinates the Washington Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) youth and community outreach programs taking place throughout the city. We are especially proud of our DC PAL programming, taking place in Wards 5, 6, 7 and 8. Our DC PAL football team currently serves: Benning Park Deanwood Marshall Heights Lincoln Heights Projects Clay Terrace Projects

  2) In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  The D.C. Police Foundation (DCPF) works to provide resources for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in support of their mission to make D.C. a safer place to live, work, and visit. DCPF seeks to accomplish their mission by: I. Maintaining and spearheading youth programs in D.C.’s most challenging neighborhoods to enhance police and community relationships. II. Supporting the unmet needs of the MPD, identified by the Chief of Police, through both in-kind and financial assistance.

  3) How does your organization help build a stronger, safer community?

  Our organization helps build a stronger and safer community through our unique offering of varied youth programming. For example, by engaging youth as young as 4-5 years old in programs like Officer Friendly and the Side by Side Band, we are encouraging them to have open conversations with law enforcement officers, to share their stories and to ask questions. By engaging with youth in this open manner, the kids learn from the officers, but the officers learn even more from the youth. Officers learn the needs of the community and can better serve each neighborhood based on what they hear from their mentees. By working together and creating that relationship, everyone feels more comfortable and can better communicate in times of need as well. We have also had many youth become MPD officers over the last 10 years, wanting to make a positive difference in their own neighborhood.

  4) How does your organization involve and empower community members in the work that you do? Please help us understand how this is important to your work.

  Our organization works directly with community members, schools, businesses, youth and the police department to develop and enhance programming that is felt to be most needed and beneficial to the community. The Youth Advisory Council is incredibly important, where youth meet regularly with the Chief of Police, sharing their visions and goals for police-community partnerships. All programs also include a component of financial literacy, so that we can teach youth and their families how to open bank accounts, budget, save and even invest. We feel that this is incredibly important to build a strong workforce and set all program youth up for success and financial independence.

  5) What excites you about the future for youth in your community?

  The youth who participate in our programming are so passionate about making the city a better place and about creating positive change within their neighborhoods. Listening to their ideas, dreams and then watching them work collaboratively with their law enforcement officer mentors on next steps to realize their goals has been incredibly exciting.

  6) As a leader, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  We hope to continue to build out and expand our youth engagement programming, building positive relationships between law enforcement and the community. This will allow for the continuation of the youth program pipeline into career paths not only in public safety, but with partner organizations within the city. We hope to inspire those who live in the city to work hand in hand with law enforcement to make the city a safer place for everyone to live, work and visit.

• Network for Victim Recovery of DC

  1) Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  All communities/neighborhoods in DC!

  2) In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  We create equitable healing and dignified experiences for survivors of crime by providing free, trauma-informed advocacy, therapeutic, and legal services in conjunction with strategic litigation, policy advocacy, and education to transform existing responses to harm.

  3) How does your organization help build a stronger, safer community?

  Survivor-defined justice is the bedrock of NVRDC and guides everything that we do. This means that justice does not look the same for every survivor. NVRDC staff support each survivors unique vision and their chose path towards that goal. We do not say or believe that "we did what was best for our client" That assumes that NVRDC know what is best for them and not themselves.

  4) How does your organization involve and empower community members in the work that you do? Please help us understand how this is important to your work.

  NVRDC believes that we empower folks by providing them with the tools they need to succeed such as learning how to be trauma-informed. By bringing trauma training to as many diverse sectors as possible, we are one step closer towards ensuring every crime victim has a dignified and empowered experience wherever they may turn for help.

  5)  What excites you about the future for youth in your community?

  Youth in our community seem to stand up and be a voice for those who are receiving any sort of injustice. They are not scared to speak up and put actions in place to fight for what they believe in.

  6) As a leader, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  NVRDC's goal is to create trauma-informed spaces everywhere possible.

• Life Pieces to Masterpieces

  1) Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Life Pieces To Masterpieces serves Black and Brown boys and young men, ages 3 to adulthood, in Wards 7 and 8 of Washington, DC.

  2) In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Life Pieces To Masterpieces develops character and leadership, unlocks potential, and prepares Black and Brown boys and young men to transform their lives and communities, with creative expression and “each one teach one” mentoring at the core. In a world that devalues and threatens the lives of Black and Brown men young and old, LPTM provides refuge for boys to break through negative self-images, tell authentic stories of their life experiences, and build strong bonds of brotherhood.

  3) How does your organization help build a stronger, safer community?

  LPTM provides over 1,200 hours per year of comprehensive out-of-school-time programming after school, during the summer, and on Saturdays. All programming supports the social-emotional, academic, emotional, physical, and civic development of our boys and young men. LPTM programming is entirely free for all youth and families and includes nutritious meals/snacks and door-to-door transportation in LPTM-owned vehicles between youths’ schools, LPTM’s programming site, and home each day, removing the two most frequently-cited barriers to accessing out-of-school-time programming nationwide: cost and safe transportation (Afterschool Alliance, 2022). Youth at LPTM–from age 3 into adulthood–have a safe, loving environment to express themselves; teach and uplift others as mentors; navigate societal barriers; and contribute positive change in their communities. Our boys see their futures beyond how society attempts to define them, surrounded by mentors–many of whom look like them, grew up in their neighborhoods, and understand their challenges and aspirations. Through their storytelling, self-expression, arts, leadership, and advocacy, our boys and young men change the world’s understanding of our shared humanity. LPTM boys and young men regularly speak up and speak out about issues important to them.

  LPTM is a part of three major coalitions: the DC OST Coalition, which advocates for public and private local investment for community-based out-of-school-time programs; the DC Arts Education Alliance, which advocates for funding and access to the arts for all DC youth, and especially those from marginalized communities; and the Black Coalition for Health, which began as the Black Coalition Against Covid, fighting to get more resources and better, more trustworthy information into Black communities. LPTM’s authentic community relationships enabled us to aid families with important questions, while our commitment to always having a young person in every coalition meeting brought important insights to the coalition’s national leadership. LPTM’s coalitional work allows us to share ideas, best practices, youth voice, and advocacy strategies with 35+ local community-based organizations. Through this work, LPTM has been connected with two additional national organizations, Afterschool Alliance and MENTOR, where our young people have consistently reached national audiences to share the authentic stories of their live, become thought leaders advancing the importance of mentorship and safe afterschool spaces, and build a new narrative about Black and Brown boys and young men.

  4) How does your organization involve and empower community members in the work that you do? Please help us understand how this is important to your work.

  LPTM’s growth as an organization has been co-designed by our first seven boys, and subsequent Apprentices over 28 years, together with families, schools, and neighborhoods in our communities East of the River. Black-led since our 1996 founding, our staff and leadership team have strongly reflected the DC neighborhoods that we serve. Our team has lived experience that helps our young people connect, feel understood, and develop a sense of belonging within our programs. LPTM youth are planners, decision-makers, and active partners in their own learning. As they grow in the program, they play a part in helping to shape each other’s lives as they become mentors and role models for their peers.

  LPTM’s unique "each one teach one" mentoring model–woven throughout our programming continuum–both fosters leadership skills in mentors and provides a nurturing and relatable support system for mentees: Older peers serve as exemplars to their younger peers, providing social-emotional and academic support in classrooms in which they themselves were once enrolled as young boys. As mentors who share many of the same experiences, challenges, and aspirations as their mentees, and supported by their own peer and staff mentors, our young men develop confidence in their innate goodness and a foundation of self-belief. Through these practices, LPTM youth grow to understand their innate potential and continue to guide the work of LPTM in new ways. LPTM youth and alumni also co-facilitate our signature “Color Me Community” interactive workshop series, which guide participants to explore equity, inclusion, and implicit biases in a safe environment that opens the way to experiencing themselves and others as integral and valued parts of shared humanity.

  5)  What excites you about the future for youth in your community?

  At Life Pieces To Masterpieces, we have always believed that it is not about us giving power to our boys and young men, but, rather, we believe that they have the innate creative ability to transform their lives and to enact positive change in their communities and their world. What excites me is that every single one of our boys and young men, when given the right opportunities, have the wherewithal to change challenges into possibilities. All that’s needed is a safe place and space for them to realize their own innate power.

  6) As a leader, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  My dream is captured in the vision of Life Pieces To Masterpieces. It is that our boys and young men become catalysts for positive change throughout their communities, their country, and the world, and that they ultimately have the self-determination and confidence to chart out their own course in their lives.

• Access Youth

  1) Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Access Youth serves at-risk middle and high school students in DC’s wards 6, 7, and 8.

  2) In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Access Youth’s mission is to keep vulnerable youth in school and out of the justice system through mediation, restorative justice, and positive youth development.

  3) How does your organization help build a stronger, safer community?

  For 15 years, Access Youth has helped build a safer community with restorative justice-based interventions to prevent violence among at-risk students. Access Youth delivers transformative programming to mitigate the impact of unresolved trauma, systemic racism, gender disparities, and cyclical poverty on student attendance, behavior, and academic performance. Access Youth’s full-time on-site Program Managers deliver individualized supports to 1000+ students yearly across our eight partner schools.

  4) How does your organization involve and empower community members in the work that you do? Please help us understand how this is important to your work.

  Access Youth’s core programs––Restorative Justice in Schools and Truancy Prevention–– keep students engaged in their school communities and empower them with critical life and leadership skills. Our programs are rooted in equity––we lift up the voices and choices of the youth we serve. We meet each individual student where they are, with evidence-based supports and a trauma-informed approach that works to empower each individual to become the role models they deserve.

  5) What excites you about the future for youth in your community?

  Access Youth sees the potential in each and every one of our students. Their exciting accomplishments show the impact of our programs. Just last year we had 200+ Access Youth students on Honor Roll, ALL of our seniors graduated, and two of our students served as President and Vice President of the student body. We are inspired by their dedication and excited for their ongoing accomplishments.

  6) As a leader, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  Every day, Access Youth actively works toward our dream: an equitable education system where every student receives the support they need to stay in school, learn to manage their emotions, and resolve conflicts without violence. We envision our middle and high school conferences growing into an integrated network of students that encompasses students across all DCPS schools and empowers students to advocate for themselves and restorative practices throughout their communities.

• Building Futures

  1) Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Ward 8 & Ward 1

  2) In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Building Futures is a year long youth empowerment program designed to equip young individuals with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to thrive in the modern workforce and become future leaders in their communities. Through a carefully structured three-phase approach, participants will engage in educational, practical, and entrepreneurial activities that foster personal growth, professional development, and community impact.

  3) How does your organization help build a stronger, safer community?

  Our youth co-op program can help build a stronger, safer community in a number of ways: Building Futures programs provide young people with valuable skills and experiences that will help them become more responsible and engaged members of the community. By providing young people with positive outlets for their energy and creativity, our program can help reduce the likelihood of them engaging in risky behaviors or criminal activities. Engaging in meaningful activities and building positive relationships can steer young people away from negative influences and towards a more positive path. Youth who participate in co-op programs often become more engaged in their communities. They may volunteer, participate in community events, or take on leadership roles, all of which contribute to building a stronger and safer community. Engaged youth are more likely to care about the well-being of their community and take action to improve it. Lastly , building future leaders. Our program can help identify and nurture the leadership potential of young people. By providing opportunities for youth to take on responsibilities, make decisions, and solve problems, these programs can help develop the next generation of community leaders who will work to make their communities safer and more vibrant. Overall, youth co-op program play a valuable role in building stronger, safer communities by empowering young people, fostering social connections, reducing crime, promoting community involvement, and developing future leaders.

  4) How does your organization involve and empower community members in the work that you do? Please help us understand how this is important to your work.

  By actively involving and empowering community members in their work, a youth co-op program can build stronger connections, foster collaboration, and create a more vibrant and inclusive community that benefits both youth participants and residents alike.

  5) What excites you about the future for youth in your community?

  The future is exciting for youth because of the opportunities for technological advancement, global connectivity, social change, entrepreneurship, education, diversity, inclusion, and climate action. With their energy, creativity, and passion, young people have the potential to shape a brighter and more sustainable future for themselves and generations to come. Lastly, Building a solidarity economy by participating in the cooperative movement to transform our perspectives and practices in economics.

  6) As a leader, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  Creating intentional spaces for healing is essential to empower us to generate prosperity for the benefit of future generations. Safe communities with minimal crime.

Building Towards Belonging: Voices DMV Report Highlights Critical Needs & Strategic Priorities for the Greater Washington Region

Almost half of DMV residents are struggling or suffering in their overall well-being, according to the latest Voices DMV Community Insights Report.

The report - which was released this week -- provides an update on the state of our region, including key regional challenges and insights from a comprehensive survey conducted by The Community Foundation in partnership with Gallup and its Center on Black Voices.

“This is not just data for data’s sake,” shared Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of The Community Foundation. “This data is a reflection of what we can do better – what our community requires of us. It provides a roadmap for how we can shift what we’re doing – as funders and as community and nonprofit partners -- to better meet their needs.”

First launched in 2017, VoicesDMV is a community engagement initiative designed to help philanthropy, community leaders, policymakers, and others better understand the diverse experiences of the people who live and work in the Greater Washington region.

This year’s report marks the third iteration of VoicesDMV. Data from the previous iteration was gathered just weeks prior to the  COVID-19 pandemic that exacerbated pre-existing socio-economic disparities across the region.

Nearly four years later, the latest VoicesDMV Community Insights Report shows that many of those disparities are still prevalent – and in some cases have widened further in the aftermath of the pandemic.

According to the report, at some point during the past year, half of residents in the DMV worried about not being able to pay their rent or mortgage. Meanwhile, among Black and Hispanic residents, more than 1 in 3 have run out of money for food. Click here to view the Full Report

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The report surveyed more than 2,800 residents across DC, Maryland, and Virginia – with an oversampling among communities of color across the region, including several neighborhoods identified by The Community Foundation as priority neighborhoods.

“This report is important because we need to make sure we’re all singing from the same sheet of music,” Camille Lloyd, Director of the Gallup Center for Black Voices shared at a launch event for the report. “No matter how well we’re doing as a region, if we don’t understand who’s being impacted negatively – and how they’re being impacted – we won’t know who is being left behind.”

Lloyd provided insights on the survey’s methodology and moderated a panel discussion with members of The Community Foundation’s Community Investment team about key takeaways from the report.

“COVID really changed the conversation about ‘work’ and the employment space as we know it,” Dawnn Leary, Chief Program Officer at The Community Foundation shared. “On a philanthropic level, it’s forced us to re-examine how we invest in workforce development and where.”

According to the latest report, nearly three in four residents described available job opportunities as a barrier to achieving their financial goals. At the same time, residents also identified a number of critical barriers to finding and keeping those jobs including access to public transportation, credit history, and access to childcare.

Leary is the chief facilitator of Reimagine – formerly the Greater Washington Workforce Development Collaborative. The initiative recently shifted its focus following a robust listening and learning discovery process with community members about the needs of the community – many of which were outlined in the report.

“When we talk about impact, we need to get out of the tendency to only focus on programmatic outcomes,” Leary explained, outlining one of the reasons for the shift. “Instead, we need to prioritize how we are responding to the actual needs on the ground.”

Jennifer Olney, Senior Community Investment Officer with the Partnership to End Homelessness shared how her initiative is advocating for more funding to meet one of the most urgent of those needs – access to affordable housing.

Olney shared how the growing number of residents struggling to pay rent has played out across the DMV, as the number of people experiencing homelessness in our region increased by 12% last year. This statistic had actually decreased during the pandemic, but has since reversed course as COVID relief and rental assistance programs expired and more residents find themselves struggling to get by.

“Like many challenges facing our community, homelessness is one issue where the public sector needs to be at the table and make the necessary investments,” Olney shared. “That’s why it’s critical for us to empower community members and those with lived experience and ensure that their voices and advocacy are heard.”

“We need to constantly ask ourselves how are we supporting and investing in the agency of people,” Leary added. “Not just listening to their voices and providing input, but finding ways to step back and let those who are closest to these issues lead.”

“Those who are living these experiences know what the solutions are – what they need is investment and support. They need to be the ones that are engaged in driving change in their community; not just philanthropy.”

“As you read this report, don’t just take it as another input for data,” Leary concluded. “Think about how this insight will change the way you work. How can you use it to change you interact with the community you serve.”

Following the panel discussion with members of the Community Investment team, Duc Luu, Director of Sustainability Initiatives/Journalism at the Knight Foundation moderated a panel discussion that dived deeper into other aspects of the report – specifically those related to the sense of belonging, social connections, and resident voice.

“A sense of belonging is more than just being seen or feeling included,” shared Vanessa Mason, Principal on the Building Cultures of Belonging team at Omidyar Network. “It means having a voice and an opportunity to use it to make demands on the society that they are a part of.”

“Belonging is more than aspirational,” Dr. Wendy Ellis, Director and Founder of the Center for Community Resilience at George Washington University added. “It’s something that is real and is measurable.”

According to Gallup and  the VoicesDMV Community Insights Report, a sense of belonging is the biggest predictor of whether residents are thriving. It also represents one of the biggest areas for improvement for our region – especially as residents look to their future. Just over half of residents expect living conditions in their communities to be ‘about the same’ five years from now, while about one in three expect them to them to be worse.

“We can’t create belonging for anyone else,” Dr. Ellis shared. “We can only create the conditions for belonging. That requires intentionality and investments that foster social cohesion – which over time develops into social capital and hope for a brighter future.”

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“I do this work because I believe that belonging cannot happen without power,” Allison Dunn-Almaguer, Executive Director of Washington Interfaith Network shared. “It’s about building agency – bringing people together across, race, religion, sexuality, and ethnicity to promote collective decision-making.”

Following the panel, Darius Graham, Managing Director of Community Investment, expressed The Community Foundation’s commitment to continue to build upon the community insights of the VoicesDMV Report by turning ideas into action. He shared information about the VoicesDMV Fellowship which will facilitate deeper engagement between The Community Foundation, residents, and organizations in priority areas to ensure authentic community voice is at the center of our work.

He also shared information about the 2024 VoicesDMV Community Action Awards. Started in 2020, the Community Action Awards provide microgrants to nonprofits working to make our region more equitable and inclusive by addressing issues and challenges highlighted in the Community Insights report.

Among the past Community Action Award Honorees were Erin McKenney, Executive Director of Just Neighbors and Lauren McDanell, VP of Strategy & Growth at SEED SPOT. Both recipients shared how the Community Action Awards allowed them to build a sense of belonging amongst the communities they serve.

“We hope that you leave this room today with a shared commitment to intentionality,” Tonia Wellons shard in conclusion. “May we glean what we can from this report and interrogate how it plays out in our communities and in the work that we do.”

“If we are to do this work effectively, it is imperative that we adapt to the needs of our community – we cannot keep doing the same things and expect different outcomes.”

“This report is only the beginning of our work – and we have a responsibility to our community to see that it’s carried out.”

Click here to see photos from the VoicesDMV Launch. For more information about VoicesDMV, visit www.voicesdmv.org

Leaders of the Future Spotlight: AsylumWorks Fellows Pioneer Revolutionary Program for Asylum Seekers

Etsegenet K., Health & Program Manager at AsylumWorks

During the month of May, The Community Foundation is highlighting individuals and programs that approach their work through a community-centered lens – especially those that uplift community voices and find community-centered solutions to systemic barriers.

This month, we’re pleased to highlight Etsegenet K., Awel A, and the Fellowship Program at AsylumWorks. The Community Foundation is proud to partner with AsylumWorks through our Health Equity Fund, which provides support to this and other programs.

For Etsegenet K, Health & Wellness Program Manager at AsylumWorks, helping asylum seekers adapt to life in a new country isn’t just her job – it’s her passion.

“I know what it feels like to receive the services and empowerment that I need to succeed in this country,” Etsegenet shared. “When I work with my community, I’m able to give back. It’s more than a job, to me.”

On any given week, Etsegenet provides critical support and case management to dozens of immigrants seeking asylum in the DMV – helping them access a range of resources to adjust to their new life in the United States. In doing so, she says she hopes to empower others to succeed in the same way that she was helped.

An AsylumWorks Case Manager meets with a client (photographed from behind, to protect the client’s privacy)

Back home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Etsegenet worked as a licensed practicing attorney, with a passion for human rights law. However, she was forced to seek refuge in the United States, after she began facing persecution for speaking out against the government.

In addition to the social and emotional challenges of leaving behind family and friends, Etsegenet faced professional and economic challenges, as she sought to establish her new life.

“It felt like I had to reinvent myself and forget everything I had back home,” she shared.

“So often, when asylum seekers come to the US, they are told that ‘USA’ stands for ‘You Start Again,’” Joan Hodges-Wu, Founder and Executive Director of AsylumWorks added, explaining some of the challenges that many of their clients face.

“Despite their wealth of experience, talent, and ambition, our clients are bombarded with messages that tell them their only professional options are driving for Uber or washing dishes. These jobs have a purpose, but they don’t offer economic mobility.”

From Client to Social Worker

Hodges-Wu founded AsylumWorks in 2016 – around the same time that Etsegenet came to the US. Today, the organization provides culturally and linguistically appropriate services to help asylum seekers and other underserved newcomers access the resources and support needed to integrate into their new communities and overcome systemic barriers.

Within a few years, word about AsylumWorks reached Etsegenet, who was able to utilize its services to get a job through career development and employment assistance programs.

Grateful for the help she received, Etsegenet continued to be involved with AsylumWorks, as a volunteer. Recognizing her passion and potential for AsylumWorks’ mission, in February 2020, Hodges-Wu hired Etsegenet to join the organization as paid, part-time employees – even though she didn’t have experience in social work.

Etsegenet celebrates her graduation from Columbia University's School of Social Work.

“Etsegenet’s love for our mission was palpable,” Hodges-Wu shared.

“It was easy to see that this was someone who could transform our organization and take our work to the next level.”

Etsegenet says it was that faith and confidence in her as a person and a professional that helped spark her love of social work. A year later, she was accepted into Columbia University’s Master of Social Work Program – one of the oldest and most prestigious programs in the country – with a full-ride scholarship for displaced people. After graduating in 2022, Etsegenet rejoined AsylumWorks, this time as a full-time therapeutic case manager as part of the Health & Wellness Program.

 “I don’t know if I would be doing social work if I hadn’t been an AsylumWorks client,” Etsegenet told us. “Their investment in me helped open my eyes to the beauty of social work. It’s hard and really demanding work – but it’s also been an incredible healing process for me. It’s such a blessing to provide others with the same services and empowerment that I was able to receive.”

Formalizing the Fellowship Program

Inspired by Etsegenet’s performance as a new employee, AsylumWorks formalized a Fellowship Program in January 2022 -- a year-long, full-time, paid, on-the-job professional training program to train former clients to work with current clients as therapeutic case managers.

Adoude Tokognon, another graduate of the Fellowship Program, who now works as a Therapeutic Case Manager at AsylumWorks.

As part of the program, fellows receive weekly individual and group supervision from licensed social workers, as they learn the basics of case management, mental health therapy, the asylum process, and social work.

“Within six months, most fellows not only are confident in their own abilities as case managers,” Hodges-Wu explained. “They also gain confidence within the organization – advocating for the needs of their clients; raising awareness about things within the organization that we could do to improve our services.”

As the organization has scaled, so has the Fellowship Program. Of the seven fellows who have graduated from the Fellowship Program, thus far, five of them have been promoted and still work at AsylumWorks.  

“Through this program, AsylumWorks is not only community-informed; we are also becoming more community-led.”

The Fellows’ presence has been wholeheartedly embraced by the communities that AsylumWorks serves. As former clients with lived experience and proficiency in native languages, Fellows have been able to quickly establish trusting relationships with incoming clients – without needing a third-party translator. By the end of first year, alone, the fellowship cohort had served more than 100 individuals and families from more than 30 countries.

The approach caught the attention of the US Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which recognized AsylumWorks’ Fellowship Program as an industry best practice in March 2023. The agency, which oversees refugee-serving programs nationwide, has since commissioned AsylumWorks to execute a series of webinars to help other organization across the country implement similar programming.

The graduation ceremony for the inaugural AsylumWorks Fellowship Program.

“I understand what people are going through,” Awel A., graduate of the inaugural fellowship cohort shared. “I am able to use my experience to help others transfer themselves from survival mode to stability.”

Like Etsegenet, Awel sought refuge in the US after facing political persecution in his home country of Ethiopia. Prior to that, Awel was a prominent constitutional lawyer who taught undergraduate law at a prestigious university for more than a decade.

“It’s frustrating,” Awel said of his experience coming to the US. “A lot of asylum seekers have transferrable knowledge and skills but they don’t have the opportunities to transfer them because they don’t have access to their profession, in this country.”

Upon arrival in the US, he quickly became connected with AsylumWorks – working with Etsegenet, who was his case manager, at the time.

Today, Etsegenet and Awel – who has since been promoted as the Legal Navigation Program Manager at AsylumWorks – are coworkers.

Awel, Legal Navigation Program Manager at AsylumWorks.

Unlike some Fellows, Awel doesn’t plan to pursue an advanced degree in social work – choosing instead to build upon his legal expertise to help AsylumWorks’ clients navigate the complex immigration system.

“To me, the Fellowship Program was an opportunity to learn about the US work culture, gain more experience and become more familiar with it – but also to give back to my community.”

“I was empowered as a client and as a fellow – now I have the opportunity to empower other people.”

“In the immigration space, it’s so easy to focus on the negative aspects of a system that is stacked against our clients,” Hodges-Wu shared. “But that is also why it is so important to cultivate pockets of light to remind us that change is possible, that opportunity still exists, and that with the right support, even newcomers facing significant obstacles have the ability to change the world.”

“Asylum seekers need to know how much they are valued,” Awel concluded. “They need my help – that is my passion.”

Empowering community voices and investing in community-led solutions to systemic barriers is an important aspect of The Community Foundation’s Strategic Vision. We are proud to support the AsylumWorks Fellowship program through our Health Equity Fund.

For more information about AsylumWorks, visit www.asylumworks.org/