Greater Washington Community Foundation Announces $12.5M in Health Advocacy, Policy, and Systems Change Support

The Greater Washington Community Foundation celebrated $12.5 million in Health Equity Fund grants to 14 DC-based nonprofits working on health advocacy, policy, and systems change initiatives. This marks the largest single grant round in The Community Foundation’s 50-year history.

The historic investment comes from the $95 million Health Equity Fund (HEF) -- designed to address the social and structural determinants of health and to help achieve health equity for DC residents. It is one of the largest philanthropic funds of any kind focused on community-based nonprofits that serve District residents.

“We know that 80% of DC’s health outcomes are driven by social, structural, and economic factors, with clinical care accounting for only 20%,” said Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “Health and wealth are inextricably linked – which is why we are confident that activating resources to change systems and policies as well as to increase economic mobility will be instrumental in improving health outcomes for District of Columbia residents.”

“In this round, we are investing in organizations who seek to change structural determinants of health over the long-term,” said Dr. Nnemdi Elias, Chair of the Health Equity Committee. “We recognize this mandate requires deep investment and collaboration, which is why our partners will also work together to share best practices and leverage their collective strengths as we build a healthier future for DC’s residents.”

Some of these investments include

• Black Women Thriving East of the River will support data, training, advocacy, and education to better position Black women living east of the Anacostia River to acquire and maintain employment in health-related careers.

• Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc. will develop a Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) economic inclusion initiative to create local-level business opportunities aligned with city-wide diversity and inclusion goals, and will strengthen the capacity of DC’s BIPOC contractors to execute and bid on BEPS project opportunities.

• La Clinica del Pueblo will support efforts to challenge citizenship as a determinant of social and legal belonging through advocacy work that addresses the health coverage exclusion of noncitizens and supports equal access to high-quality care, regardless of status.

• The National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens will lead four years of advocacy to enact change through the Black-led #SafeAndFreeDC legislative policy agenda, which addresses health, economic, and racial equity through transformation of the criminal legal system.

• Whitman-Walker Institute will work with community organizations and District residents to develop a partnership framework that increases cross-sectoral collaboration in policy and advocacy efforts, which will then be used to develop a Queer and Trans Agenda for Racial and Economic Justice.

Additional grantees include: Council for Court Excellence; DC Fiscal Policy Institute; DC Justice Lab; DC Reentry Housing Alliance; Empower DC; Fair Budget Coalition; Many Languages One Voice; Mothers Outreach Network; and Tzedek DC.

Meet our Health Equity Nonprofit Partners!

Wellons and representatives from the DC Health Equity Committee, DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield celebrated with the nonprofit organizations at a special welcome breakfast.

“Today represents the single most important philanthropic investment – not only in the history of The Community Foundation, but also in the history of Washington DC,” Commissioner Karima Woods with the DC Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking. “With this investment in policy, advocacy, and systems change, we champion the HOPE (hope, opportunity, prosperity, and equity) you will bring to the District.”

“The Health Equity Fund is an unprecedented, community-focused philanthropic endeavor, and this grant round mirrors the extraordinary nature of the fund with specific focus on programs that will create lasting structural and policy changes for our DC community,” said Brian D. Pieninck, President and CEO of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst). “We applaud the tireless efforts of the organizations selected as we work together to find ways to reduce the effects that social and structural determinants have on health outcomes. We are confident these organizations will help to change the economic, social and policy systems that often create and reinforce persistent health inequities in the District.”

With this exciting investment also came a call to action.

“We’re asking you to work together, as a cohort,” Juan Jara, a member of the Health Equity Committee explained. ““Your work – and the issues that your organizations address – are all interconnected. The more we can collaborate and work together, the better off we’re going to be as a community.”

The Community Foundation and its partners didn’t waste any time – launching straight into their second IDEA Summit immediately following the welcome breakfast. The event allowed partners to not only network, but also to ‘co-design success’ – working together to identify the outcomes, actions, and impact that they hope to see over the next few years. The summit was facilitated by a team from the American Institutes for Research (AIR), which serves as the evaluation partner for the Health Equity Fund.

“This is a quality group,” shared one leader. “Everyone in this room has a drive and a passion to make a huge difference for this community.”

Pride at the End of the Rainbow: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Identity and Intersectionality

In celebration of Pride Month, The Community Foundation invited some of our nonprofit partners to highlight their experiences working with the Greater Washington region’s LGBTQ+ community.

La Clinica Del Pueblo

1) Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to the LGBTQ+ community in the Greater Washington region.

La Clínica del Pueblo's mission is to build a healthy Latinx community through culturally appropriate health services, with a focus on those most in need. La Clínica was founded in 1983 to address the emerging health needs of DC's Central American immigrant population. Today, it serves the Latinx community in the Greater Washington region, providing linguistically and culturally appropriate, as well as LGBTQ+-friendly, health services.

The Empodérate Program, specifically designed for LGBTQ+ Latinx youth, has been a part of La Clínica's services since 2006. It operates two drop-in safe spaces in the region, one in Washington, DC and another in Prince George's County, MD. The program focuses on culturally and linguistically appropriate HIV prevention services. Annually, the Empodérate Program serves approximately 2,350 MSM (men who have sex with men) members of the Latinx community.

2)  What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do with the LBTQ+ community in the Greater Washington area? What are you most ‘proud’ of?

In addition to providing essential healthcare services, we recognize the importance of representation and visibility. One of the aspects we are most proud of is providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals within the Latinx community, advocating for their rights, and actively participating in events like the DC Pride parade. We understand the unique challenges and barriers they may face, such as cultural stigma and language barriers, and strive to create an inclusive and welcoming environment where they can access the healthcare services they need. By doing so, we contribute to a more inclusive society where all individuals, regardless of their cultural background or sexual orientation, can live with dignity and access the healthcare services they deserve.

3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received from The Community Foundation  has helped you achieve your goals?

The funding we have received has been instrumental in expanding our programs, enhancing our service delivery, and improving health outcomes for the Latinx LGBTQ+ community in the Greater Washington area.

4) What do you wish that more people understood about the LGBTQ+ community?

People must understand the intersectionality and unique struggles experienced by low-income, immigrant, Limited English Proficient (LEP), LGBTQ+ Latinx individuals.

Low-income members of this community often confront multiple barriers to accessing healthcare, housing, education, and employment opportunities. Discrimination and systemic inequalities exacerbate their challenges, making achieving economic stability and social well-being even more difficult. Furthermore, being an immigrant and identifying as LGBTQ+ introduces additional hurdles. Immigrants within the LGBTQ+ Latinx community may face discrimination, prejudice, and even legal challenges related to their immigration status.

Addressing these intersectional challenges requires a comprehensive and inclusive approach. It involves creating safe spaces that embrace diverse identities and experiences within the LGBTQ+ Latinx community. It also necessitates developing tailored programs and services that account for economic disparities, immigration concerns, language access, and cultural sensitivity. This entails advocating for policies that address systemic inequalities, promoting cultural competency training for service providers, and supporting initiatives that uplift and empower LGBTQ+ Latinx individuals in low-income and immigrant communities.

The Equality Chamber Foundation

1) Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to the LGBTQ+ community in the Greater Washington region.

The Equality Chamber Foundation (ecf) was founded in 2019 to create a united community. United by a common purpose to enhance our community’s culture, evolve its economy, and create safe spaces for the entrepreneurial spirit to thrive.

We are an essential conduit between community, culture, and enterprise. We help our community do more, be more, and grow more, so that they may continue to enrich our LGBTQIA+ family and evolve our community to meet their economic potential.

2) What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do with the LBTQ+ community in the Greater Washington area? What are you most ‘proud’ of?

All of the work we do is for the LGBTQ+ and allied community. Through our work we are able to help individuals, business leaders, business owners, and the community as a whole grow.

3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received from The Community Foundation has helped you achieve your goals?

The funding we have received has provided us with a vehicle to do safe space training for employers.

4) What do you wish that more people understood about the LGBTQ+ community?

The LGBTQ+ community is the most intersectional community - you can be a member of any other identity or affiliation and also be LGBTQ+

Whitman-Walker institute

1) Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to the LGBTQ+ community in the Greater Washington region.

Whitman-Walker Institute expands the body of knowledge and science needed to strengthen our foundation of care, advocacy, research, and education. Through our work, we empower all people to live healthy, love openly, and achieve equity and belonging. Today, Whitman-Walker Health lives out its mission statement by offering affirming, community-based health and wellness services to all with a special expertise in LGBTQ+ and HIV care. WWH has the expertise to address numerous health disparities, including providing services to the largest cohorts of transgender and gender expansive patients in the country.

2) What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do with the LBTQ+ community in the Greater Washington area? What are you most ‘proud’ of?

For almost fifty years, Whitman-Walker has been woven into the fabric of DC’s diverse community as a first responder and trusted resource for those living with and affected by HIV; a leader in LGBTQ+ care and advocacy; a research center working to discover breakthroughs in HIV treatment and prevention science; a fierce advocate for health equity and inclusion; and one of DC’s dependable healthcare partners throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received from The Community Foundation has helped you achieve your goals?

As a nonprofit, grant funding is pivotal to expanding our capacity to advocate, research, and educate about the health needs of LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV. Funding supports our research into the bio-psycho-social drivers of ill health and the interventions to address these causes! Grant funding supports the many services we provide that are not covered by medical insurance.

4) What do you wish that more people understood about the LGBTQ+ community?

While LGBTQ+ people are subject to the bias and stereotypes that permeate our culture, the LGBTQ+ community is an invitation to questioning many of these assumptions that are woven into the fabric of our society. Liberation from sexual norms and gender roles provides us with an insight into how we can build a more expansive and inclusive society where more people can flourish. This process is fun and exciting!

AsylumWorks

1)  Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to the LGBTQ+ community in the Greater Washington region.

Founded in 2016, AsylumWorks is a regional 501(c)3 nonprofit created with the awareness that asylum seekers and other immigrants seeking safety from violence often arrive in the United States with many needs but few resources.

Rebuilding one’s social support network is an important component of feeling at home in a new place. Unfortunately, LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers are not always welcomed by members of their diaspora when they arrive in the U.S. To address this need, AsylumWorks formed PRISM (Pride Refugee & Immigrant Support Meet-Up) to build an alternative inclusive, safe, and affirming peer community for LGBTQ+ refugees, asylum seekers, and other immigrants seeking safety from violence. PRISM works to foster spaces in which LGBTQ+ immigrants feel comfortable being themselves and can also participate in community-building activities that expand their social support in a new country and support their mental health and well-being via a facilitator-led psychosocial peer support group.

2) What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do with the LBTQ+ community in the Greater Washington area? What are you most ‘proud’ of?

PRISM is open to all AsylumWorks clients who identify as LGBTQ+, including alumni, waitlisted clients, along with other local LGBTQ+ asylum seekers who reside in DC, Maryland, or Virginia. This impact is far-reaching and enables group members to connect with the greater DMV community, as well as fellow group members. With each new member, our PRISM group inches closer to our vision of community-based support group where members with shared identities connect, grow, and support each other.

3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received from The Community Foundation has helped you achieve your goals?

The funding that we have received has made it possible to offer metro cards to PRISM group members to remove the cost barrier for attendees to move around the city, especially for our monthly dinners and in-person Pride Month events, such as tie dye t-shirt making and marching in the DC Pride Parade. An attendee reflects: “Hi! I want to thank you again. The metro card is helping me a lot. I started meeting the [immigration] lawyers and I am using it to go to school like to keep my visa status active till I submit my asylum applications. Thank you so much.”

4) What do you wish that more people understood about the LGBTQ+ community?

A person fighting to explore their identity is so brave. In addition to the complexity of navigating their identity, LGBTQ+ asylum seekers face significant challenges to overcome in new cultural, linguistic, and societal contexts as they seek to navigate complex immigration systems. There are innumerable barriers, and everyone has their own unique journey.

Bringing it All Home: How DC Can Become the First Major City to End Chronic Homelessness

Last month, The Partnership to End Homelessness hosted a special donor webinar to discuss a landmark report on chronic homelessness in DC.

The report by the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI), “Bringing it All Home: How DC Can Become the 1st Major City to End Chronic Homelessness and Provide Higher-Quality Services” outlines a series of recommendations to DC policymakers and funders. The report also answers the ongoing question about the cost of ending chronic homelessness.

“The mission to end homelessness and create safe and affordable housing in our nation's capital for extremely low-income households has never been more important -- or more achievable,” shared The Community Foundation’s President and CEO Tonia Wellons. The Partnership to End Homelessness partnered with The William S. Abell Foundation to co-fund the report.

“[Ending chronic homelessness] is not only a moral imperative; it’s also a matter of racial justice,” DCFPI Executive Director Erica Williams shared. “Nearly 83% of individuals experiencing homelessness in the District are Black – even though Black residents make up just 44% of the District’s population and 73% of those living below the poverty line. Historic and current day racism are what got us to this result.” 

The recommendations come after DCFPI hosted a series of focus groups with experts, including case managers and individuals with lived-in experience with the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) system. DCFPI also conducted a thorough analysis of DC homelessness data, including the annual Point in Time surveys.

DCFPI outlines Chronic Homelessness Funding into three primary categories: Tenant Vouchers & Services, Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) or Site-Based Funding, and Stipend Incentives for Providers and Case Managers. Of the three, PSH represents the biggest need for investment.

DCFPI outlines some of the average expenses in each category.

In addition to the budgetary recommendations, the report also outlined a series of five systemic changes where public and private funding is needed. These recommendations include speeding up the PSH leasing process, strengthening case management, improving and clarifying the rules of site-based PSH, addressing behavioral health needs, preventing homelessness, and better meeting the needs of the aging population.

When asked about some of the biggest challenges, Kate Coventry, DCFPI’s Deputy Director of Legislative Strategy who authored the report, pointed to inefficiencies in the PSH system and the alarming increase in the number of seniors experiencing homelessness.

Of 1,924 PSH vouchers made available in FY22, only 427 – just 22 percent -- were used to house individuals. The delays in implementing vouchers – which originate from a number of factors, including unwieldy application requirements and case manager shortages - can sometimes prove fatal; especially for seniors experiencing homelessness. Seniors account for nearly 40 percent of the region’s single adult homeless population.

Point-in-Time Counts for the Greater Washington Region by age demographic (Credit: Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments)

“We need to figure out why older people are experiencing homelessness more – and how we can better serve them within the PSH system,” Coventry explained. “Our shelter system is not designed to meet the safety and needs of older people. That’s why we need to prioritize getting them into stable, affordable housing.”

“Homelessness is not a lake; it’s a river,” Coventry added. “People are becoming homeless and exiting homelessness all the time – as providers, our objective is to keep people moving along their housing journey, while at the same time advocating to address the challenges that brought them here in the first place.”

Coventry was joined on the webinar by Rachelle Ellison, a Senior Mentor Advisor with the People for Fairness Coalition who participated in a focus group behind the report. When asked how philanthropy should get involved, Ellison emphasized the need to continue to fund service providers and advocacy efforts -especially those that are led by people with lived experience.

“What we need are more passionate people doing this work,” added Rachelle Ellison, Senior Mentor Advisor with the People for Fairness Coalition. “We need more case managers – and we need to re-examine the requirements to become a case manager so that more people with lived experience can become involved in the work.”

“The Partnership to End Homelessness recognizes the importance of building the capacity of the PSH system and of our PSH providers,” said Silvana Straw, Senior Community Investment Officer and Philanthropic Advisor with The Partnership to End Homelessness. “Together with our donors and investors, we continue to invest in the construction of more PSH housing units, and in the capacity of PSH providers to bill Medicaid and leverage ongoing federal funding.”

“The Partnership to End Homelessness is also committed to funding our advocacy partners who are leading this work around policy and practice change,” Jennifer Olney, Senior Community Investment Officer with the Partnership to End Homelessness added. “Without the public funding that they continue to fight for, much of this work would not be possible.”

“We look forward to continuing our investment in the capacity of PSH providers and building a more just, equitable system. Together, we look forward to helping DC become the first major city to end chronic homelessness.”  

For more information on how you can get involved, contact Jennifer Olney at jolney@thecommunityfoundation.org or Silvana Straw at sstraw@thecommunityfoundation.org or visit our website to learn more about The Partnership to End Homelessness.

Peace for DC: Hope for Reducing Gun Violence in the District

By Amy L. Walter

My husband Chuck and I opened our donor-advised fund with The Community Foundation in 2020. At the time, we were eager to learn from The Community Foundation’s insight into local organizations and how they contribute to racial and economic equity. We initially focused on affordable housing and wealth building, which we viewed as foundational to people’s financial and overall well-being. We also participated in The Community Foundation’s Sharing DC program.

In the summer of 2021, our lives, and consequently the focus of our philanthropy, changed. During an after-dinner stroll in DC with our dear, longtime friends, Jerry Black and Cathy Feingold, gunshots rang out, and Jerry was struck and killed.

Cathy, in the midst of this unimaginable loss, focused attention on the gun violence so prevalent in many areas of our city and region. Gun violence in DC and other cities is a devasting problem. Homicides in the District nearly doubled in the four years leading to 2021. In recent years, an increasing number of gun violence victims have been children.

Cathy decided to establish a memorial fund for Jerry benefitting The TraRon Center, an organization providing art therapy and counseling to children affected by gun violence in Ward 8. The culturally responsive services The TraRon Center lovingly provides and the safe, healing space it creates have a demonstrable impact on children’s levels of PTSD.

Inspired by Cathy, I began learning about gun violence – from reading the research to attending panels to meeting with leaders of grassroots organizations. I met regularly with the founders of The TraRon Center and Guns Down Friday – an organization founded by Jawanna Hardy, one of The Community Foundation’s Black Voices for Black Justice DMV Fellows.

Here are some of the things that I learned:

• Research from around the country shows that community gun violence is a solvable problem. DC is learning from what works and targeting proven interventions toward the small number of people most likely to commit gun violence.

• ·Solving this problem is as much about racial equity and economic mobility as about safety and well-being. Black people are disproportionately the victims of gun violence in urban areas, and the communities affected by gun violence face significant adverse economic and educational consequences.

• In DC, there is momentum on this issue. For many years, community-based organizations (CBOs) with deep knowledge of the people and communities most affected have been working tirelessly to address this problem. More recently, the media are shining a spotlight on it, residents are demanding action, and the DC government is allocating greater resources to those doing this critical work.

This research led me to the Peace for DC Fund – a component fund at The Community Foundation that is playing a leading role in moving the District forward. Since its founding in 2021, Peace for DC has brought together CBOs, researchers, and the government to collaborate in solving the problem of gun violence. It has educated the public on proven solutions and supported the development of the District’s Gun Violence Reduction Strategic Plan. It has delivered financial and technical support to CBOs closest to the ground – all with the goal of reducing homicides in DC by 60 percent over five years.

In 2022, Peace for DC took the important step of launching the DC Peace Academy, grounded in the best practice of providing high-quality training to Community Violence Intervention (CVI) workers. These CVI workers put themselves at risk by connecting with the hardest-to-reach individuals, who are most likely to commit gun violence, so they choose another path. The Peace Academy gives CVI workers affiliated with different organizations the chance to learn from and support one another. In December 2022, Chuck and I were fortunate to attend the DC Peace Academy’s second cohort graduation ceremony, which we found deeply moving and inspiring.

Based on our strong belief in Peace for DC, Chuck and I have made a five-year financial commitment to support the powerful work they do. By contributing to Peace for DC, we not only help to heal and support people affected by gun violence; we help prevent gun violence-related deaths from ever occurring – a prospect that gives us hope for a safer future. We encourage you to learn more about Peace for DC’s visionary work in moving toward a District free from gun violence.

Amy L. Walter is an education professional with 20 years of experience combining classroom teaching, policy work, and nonprofit strategic planning and investment, in the U.S. and overseas. She and her husband, Chuck Szymanski, live in Washington, DC with their teenage daughter. For more information about the Peace for DC Fund, visit https://www.peacefordc.org/

Oh, What a Night! The Community Foundation Hosts 50th Anniversary Celebration of Philanthropy

Terri Lee Freeman is presented with the 2023 Spirit of Philanthropy Award. The award was presented by Charito Kruvant and Kenny Emson, who served as 50th Anniversary Co-Chairs for the event.

On May 3rd, The Community Foundation hosted the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Philanthropy — celebrating 50 Years of History, Hope, and Healing in the Greater Washington region.

The evening began with a special VIP reception, where representatives from the Prince George’s County Government and Montgomery County Government presented The Community Foundation with proclamations, honoring the organization’s legacy and commitment to the region. The Community Foundation was also honored by the recognition of elected officials from DC, Virginia and Maryland — including a special video message from MD-Rep. Jamie Raskin.

After the VIP reception, guests were lead down into the theater by the Eastern Senior High School Blue & White Marching Machine, where they were greeted by the evening’s emcee, NBC4’s Shawn Yancy.

Richard Bynum, Chair of The Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees kicked off the program and introduced Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of The Community Foundation, who delivered some brief remarks.

“Some say the racial wealth gap is too big to be solved, but we believe it’s too urgent to be ignored.”

— Tonia Wellons

In her remarks, Tonia paid homage to the incredible men and women over The Community Foundation’s 50 year legacy — including the late Bob Linowes and the Honorable Wayne Curry. She also expressed her gratitude for how far The Community Foundation has come — and the future it is working towards — closing the racial wealth gap in the Greater Washington region.

Following Tonia’s remarks, the 50th Anniversary Host Committee Co-Chairs, Charito Kruvant and Kenny Emson presented the 2023 Spirit of Philanthropy Award to Terri Lee Freeman.

Terri was the longest-serving and first Black female President and CEO of The Community Foundation from 1996-2014. During her tenure, Terri was recognized by the Washington Business Journal as one of its “Women Who Mean Business” and by Washingtonian Magazine as a “Washingtonian of the Year” and “100 Most Powerful Women of Washington”.

Since leaving The Community Foundation, she has pursued her passion for civil rights and social justice as the former President of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, and now as the Executive Director of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture in Baltimore.

Following a special tribute video, Terri sat down with Shawn Yancy for a brief fireside chat, where they discussed aspects of Terri’s legacy and her aspirations for the future.

Following the fireside chat, guests enjoyed an evening of food, fun, dance and entertainment provided by artists and nonprofit partners from across the region.

A special thank you to Eastern Senior High School, Levine Music, Baila4Life, Sole Defined, Metrostage, Christylez Bacon, and DJ Face for sharing their time and talents with us. It was truly an unforgettable evening!

Click here for a complete recording of the Evening Program. Additional photos from the evening can also be found on our SmugMug Album.

Let's Talk Taxes: Insights from The Federal Budget for Donors to Consider

It’s that time of year again, when lawmakers on Capitol Hill convene to discuss the FY24 Federal Budget - a topic which (for better or worse) impacts many who live, work, and thrive in our region.

However, it’s what got passed in last year’s budget that some donors may want to pay closer attention to.

In August 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which included nearly $80 Billion in funding for the Internal Revenue Service over the next 10 years.

Last month, the IRS Commissioner released the agency’s operating plan, outlining how the new funding would be allocated. The 150-page plan covering 2023 - 2031 speaks primarily to five areas of priority spending:

• $47.4 billion to increase tax compliance among wealthy taxpayers and businesses.

• $12.4 billion for technology enhancements.

• $8.2 billion to recruit and retain a highly skilled, diverse workforce.

• $7.5 billion targeting taxpayer service improvements.

• $3.9 billion for cybersecurity.

Significant operational efficiencies are anticipated, and the heightened compliance efforts will generally apply to taxpayers making more than $400,000 annually. What’s raising eyebrows is that high-income earners and thus, donors to charity—and the financial professionals who serve them—should likely expect more in terms of attention, oversight, and audits. 

According to the plan, “segments of taxpayers with complex issues and complex returns where audit rates are minimal today, such as those related to large partnerships, large corporations, and high-income and high-wealth individuals,” will be areas of focus. 

The new-hire ramp up and technology implementation will take some time, per experts, with some believing that 2022 tax returns will be less subject to scrutiny than those in future years. But, the agency also has a three-year window to initiate an audit, giving it time to look back. 

Of specific importance to the charitable community is Objective 3, Initiative 4 (PDF page 66 of the plan), which states: “The IRS will increase enforcement activities to help ensure tax compliance of high-income and high-wealth individuals.” 

Increasing right along with the enhanced scrutiny is the need for solid charitable planning advice. The community foundation is an ideal partner, offering secure and efficient vehicles for charitable giving—including the precise tax documentation and compliance that the IRS expects. 

Indeed, a silver lining for advisors and those who work with The Community Foundation may be that the added potential IRS oversight plays to The Community Foundation’s strengths. By offering donors fully-vetted grantee organizations, plus gift execution, documentation and compliance services, those who’ve established donor-advised, field-of-interest, designated, or other funds at the community foundation can rest more easily knowing that their philanthropy is being handled as intended and able to withstand questioning, whether they are funding their contributions with Qualified Charitable Distributions, highly-appreciated stock, or complex assets such as closely-held businesses and real estate.

The Community Foundation stands ready to help donors and financial advisors unlock the power of philanthropy by providing the tools and expertise to help them achieve their philanthropic goals.

For more information, visit our website or contact our General Counsel & Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Tiffany Purvis at tpurvis@thecommunityfoundation.org

Elected Officials Congratulate The Community Foundation on 50th Anniversary

The Prince George’s County Council represented by Council Member Krystal Oriadha (District 7), presented The Community Foundation with a proclamation in honor of its 50th Anniversary

The Montgomery County Council represented by Council President Evan Glass (At-Large), Council Member Will Jawando (At-Large), and County Executive Marc Elrich, presented The Community Foundation with a proclamation in honor of its 50th Anniversary.

The Community Foundation is proud to collaborate with local elected leaders to promote positive change and build stronger communities in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, here are just a few of the leaders who send their well wishes to The Community Foundation and it’s supporters:

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser congratulated The Community Foundation on its 50 years of exemplary service to our communities.

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) commends The Community Foundation for it’s contributions to a vast array of important causes in the Washington Metropolitan area.

Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) thanks The Community Foundation and its donors for unleashing the power of philanthropy to help “people of all races, places, and identities reach their full potential”

Governor Glen Youngkin (R-VA) commends The Community Foundation for being a beacon of hope for countless members of the community.

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) issued this US Senate Citation in The Community Foundation’s honor, “with gratitude for its outstanding community investment and civic leadership….as the Washington DC region’s largest local funder”.

Congressional Recognition
Presented by the Honorable Donald S. Beyer Jr. of Virginia in the House of Representatives on the House Floor on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

Mr. Speaker, I, alongside my colleagues, Representative IVEY, Representative HOYER, Representative RASKIN, and Delegate HOLMES NORTON, wish to honor The Greater Washington Community Foundation for 50 years of service in the region. The Greater Washington Community Foundation will commemorate this momentous milestone on May 3, 2023, with philanthropists, nonprofits, businesses, and community members at the Smithsonian’s National Museum for African American History and Culture.

In 1973, a group of prominent business and civic leaders—including Henry ‘‘Hank’’ Strong, Polly Shackleton, Davidson Sommers, Bishop John Walker, and Joseph Whyte—came together to establish a local community foundation to ‘‘promote a permanent source of philanthropic capital for the Washington Metropolitan region.’’

Over time, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has grown to become the largest local funder serving this region, with more than $1.5 billion invested to build equitable, just, and thriving communities in D.C., Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Northern Virginia. Under the leadership of CEO Tonia Wellons, the Greater Washington Community Foundation continues to galvanize philanthropic resources and strategically invest in solutions to a wide range of issues impacting our communities—from education to housing stability, food security, workforce development, and crisis response.

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is now committed to leading our community in a movement that will help increase economic mobility and close our region’s racial wealth gap to create a better future for our region where everyone prospers.

Please join the regional delegation and I in honoring the 50th anniversary of the Greater Washington Community Foundation on May 3, 2023. We urge all the citizens of the greater Washington area to join in celebrating this very special occasion.

Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD 8th District) recorded this message for The Community Foundation's Celebration of Philanthropy, in honor of the organization's 50th Anniversary.

In Pursuit of Economic Justice Recap: How Children’s Trust Accounts Provide Hope for the Future

On April 19, The Community Foundation hosted a panel of national leaders for a discussion about how investments in Children’s Trust Accounts create a brighter future for communities. The event was part of the “In Pursuit of Economic Justice” Webinar Series –designed to bring together experts to explore innovative approaches to closing the racial wealth gap.

“We want young people to be able start their lives with the flexibility to pursue their dreams in any direction that they want to go,” shared The Community Foundation's Anna Hargrave. “By expanding the possibilities for an entire group of children, we can help forward our vision of closing the racial wealth gap across the Greater Washington region.”

“When you think about poverty, you often focus on income,” Dr. William Elliott a leading researcher and professor at the University of Michigan shared. “But income is dealing with the symptoms of poverty instead of the root cause of poverty. Poor people don't just have a lack of income; what they have is a lack of opportunity.”

“Children’s Trust Accounts are not just about money; it's about making sure that future generations are in a position to access the resources they need to be successful.”

Child Wealth Building Programs (such as a “Child Savings Accounts”, “Baby Bonds” or “Children’s Trust Accounts”) are growing increasingly popular in the philanthropic and public sectors. A private or public funder provides seed money to open a savings account for kindergarteners, which accrues value until the student graduates high school and can be used for different purposes.

In the case of Child Savings Accounts, funding is often restricted towards post-secondary education or  training through a 529 state college savings plan. A Children’s Trust Account allows funding to go towards a wider range of wealth building opportunities, including trade school, homeownership, or entrepreneurship. The Community Foundation intends to launch a Children’s Trust Account pilot program at two elementary schools in Prince George’s County and Montgomery County sometime in the next year.

Dr. Elliott is the founding director of the Center of Assets, Education, and Inclusion, and recently authored a comprehensive report “Unleashing the Power of Children’s Savings Accounts (CSAs): Doorway to Multiple Streams of Assets”. The report outlines some of the biggest outcomes from child wealth building programs, including what Dr. Elliott calls “tangible hope.”

A mother participating in NYC Kids Rise's Child Wealth Building Program shares the impact the program has had on her son's learning.

“When you give a kid an asset, you're allowing them to begin to purchase some part of their future self,” Dr. Elliott explained. “It's a very valuable thing. It's concrete. It's not just ‘I hope one day they go to college.’ You’re giving them real, tangible assets so they can plan for their future in a way that they’ve never been able to do before."

“All of a sudden, college is possible; not just in a wishful thinking kind of way, but in a tangible, near-future, kind of way.”

“It's not just about having an asset accumulate and be able to gain on that early investment,” Leila Bozorg, Chief of Strategy and Policy at NYC Kids Rise added. “It's about the narratives that a kid is hearing from an early age and those expectations of success and support to meet those expectations.”

NYC Kids Rise started out in 2017 as a pilot program in New York City’s School District 30 (about 3,500 kindergartners). Six years later, the program has expanded city-wide – thanks to a partnership with New York City Public Schools – making it the largest such program in the country. Champions of the project included Maryland Governor Wes Moore, then CEO of Robin Hood, which invested more than $1 million towards the initiative.

Governor Wes Moore (then CEO of Robin Hood) talks about the importance of Child Wealth Building Programs.

While the financial partnership with New York City Public Schools has been a huge benefit to NYC Kids Rise, Leila says that it’s the existing infrastructure provided by the school system that has opened new windows of opportunity for students.

“What we've tried to do is not just build a vehicle for asset accumulation; we’ve engaged the entire ecosystem that impacts the long-term success of a child,” Bozorg explained. “We know that each part of that ecosystem can impact a child's economic opportunities in the future.”

NYC Kids Rise works with the school system to develop financial education curriculums for the classroom that can be personalized to each child – allowing them to develop financial literacy skills in real-time. They also provide workshops and resources for parents so they can create their own savings account – building the foundation of a culture of saving for the entire family that Dr. Elliott says is important to strengthen and encourage.

“Because of these programs, families are starting to have active conversations about their kids’ futures, well in advance – they’re catching a glimpse of a financial future that they didn’t have the capacity or resources to see before. Over time, they begin to develop and adopt long-term habits for financial success.”

Community Leader Claudia Coger talks about their community investment in the NYC Kids Rise community scholarship program.

When asked about secrets to success, Bozorg added that community involvement is key. Early on, NYC Kids Rise set up community scholarships – allowing anchor institutions and community groups to make direct contributions to child wealth building programs rather than contributing through more traditional scholarship programs. Dr. Elliott noted that this format allows funders to have a greater impact on students, since their investment multiplies the impact of the child’s savings account.

“Any investment can make a difference in a child’s life,” Bozorg said. “But we’ve found that the real growth happens when communities and community partners take the lead in committing to a generation’s future.”

When asked about lessons learned from such a program, Bozorg had just one word to say: “Patience.”

“These are long-term, legacy-changing programs that can have major impacts on institutions and on people's lives. That change isn't going to happen overnight.”

“We're trying to change minds and cultures around saving,” Dr. Elliott added. “It's one thing to have this platform and provide this resource; it's another to help them access it and see the value in it.”

That being said, both were highly optimistic about the prospects for The Community Foundation to launch a Children’s Trust Account pilot program.

“I think your program will be a good marker,” Dr. Elliott remarked. “Not only for the Greater Washington Region, but for the whole country to better understand what happens when we make larger investments in our children’s future over time.”

Click here to view a recording “In Pursuit of Economic Justice: A Primer on Children’s Trust Accounts. For additional information on Children’s Trust Accounts and other economic mobility initiatives, visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org/strategic-plan.

Faces from the Past: Looking Back at The Community Foundation Founders

As we enter the 50th Anniversary of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, we’ve taken a moment to look back at the incredible people behind the founding of our organization, including members of our very first Board of Directors.

We are excited to share their stories with you, as we continue to learn more about their legacy, their leadership, and the impact they have had on the Greater Washington Region!

Founding Board Member Marie Barksdale (far Right) with Civil Rights Activist Dorothy Height (far left).

Marie C. Barksdale moved to DC in 1961 as the Executive Director of Howard University’s Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. A member of the NAACP, the National Council of Negro Women, and Alpha Kappa Alpha's American Council on Human Rights, Barksdale was a powerful advocate of the Civil Rights Movement. In the summer of 1964, she joined Wednesdays in Mississippi (WIMS), a movement dedicated to strengthening interracial solidarity and support for Black women in the South. She continued her advocacy for social and economic justice as a member of the Johnson Administration's Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) and the Women in Community Service Initiative.

Marie was also deeply involved in community development efforts in the Greater Washington region. In 1973, she was among the first stakeholders engaged in conversations surrounding the forming of a “Community Foundation for Greater Washington”. Later that year, she joined the Board of Directors, where she would serve for at least the next decade.

In 1983, she became the first Executive Director of Young Audiences, Arts for Learning DC- a nonprofit providing arts education services to DC children. She remained heavily involved with the organization until her death in 2003.

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Marvin Bordelon (then Msgr Marvin Bordelon) moved to Washington in 1967. A Catholic Priest with nearly two decades of service to congregations in Shreveport, LA, Marvin joined the US Catholic Conference (USCC) as their director of the Division of World Justice and Peace. During his time in Washington, he was appointed as the US delegate to UNESCO.

In December 1972, Marvin resigned from the priesthood to become a consultant with the Council on Foundations in New York, with the purpose of “working on the establishment of a Community Foundation for Greater Washington”.

On May 10, 1973, Marvin gathered with fifteen prominent Washingtonians at the Federal City Club to discuss the founding of a Community Foundation of Greater Washington. Shortly thereafter, the Board of Directors was organized and Marvin became the first President of the Community Foundation of Greater Washington. He would lead The Community Foundation for a number of years before passing the baton to Lawrence S. Stinchcomb sometime around 1978. Marvin passed away at his home in Rockville, MD in 2009.

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Peggy Cooper Cafritz came to DC in 1964, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement to attend George Washington University – an institution which was still largely segregated at the time. By her senior year, she had organized a black student union and become a driving force towards the integration of the school’s fraternities and sororities. In 1968, she co-founded what would become the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. In the 1970s, she became the youngest fellow of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and served on the committee that created the University of the District of Columbia.

In 1981, Peggy married Conrad Cafritz, becoming part of one of the most prominent mixed-race couples in Washington. She became one of the region’s leading supporters of the arts – particularly African-American art and was a founding member of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. In 1973, she joined the Board of Directors of the newly organized “Community Foundation for Greater Washington,” where she would serve for at least the next decade. She was instrumental in cultivating the relationship between the fledgling Community Foundation and The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, which continues to this day.

In 2000, she was elected President of the DC Board of Education – a position she would hold for the next six years. Peggy Cooper Cafritz passed away in 2018, at the age of 70.

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Nancy “Bitsy” Folger came to Washington in 1958 as the daughter of Neil McElroy, Secretary of Defense in the Eisenhower Administration. She got a teaching job in Montgomery County and joined the Junior League. While there, she joined forces with DC leaders like John W. Hechinger in advocating for DC Home Rule. She was one of the first Board Chairs of the Black Student Fund, a nonprofit founded in 1964 to support Black students and the integration of schools. Bitsy quickly gained a reputation as a prodigious fundraiser. She would go on to serve as Chair of the White House Endowment Fund and a member of the White House Historical Association.

In 1973, Bitsy was among the first stakeholders engaged in conversations surrounding the forming of a “Community Foundation for Greater Washington”. Later that year, she joined the Board of Directors, where she would serve for at least a decade. After the terrorist attacks on 9/11, Bitsy rejoined the Board of Directors, serving from 2003-2007. She is currently a fundholder at the Greater Washington Community Foundation.

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Maceo W. Hubbard was one of the first Blacks to graduate from Harvard Law School in 1926. Hubbard moved to Washington in 1942 to work as a lawyer on the Committee on Fair Employment Practices, a committee established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to prevent racial discrimination in the War Industries.

After the war, Maceo joined the Department of Justice, where he was an adviser in the civil rights division. Maceo helped developed policies and legislation related to school desegregation that became part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Maceo was heavily involved with the National Capital Area United Way (today the United Way of the National Capital Area), serving as one of the first presidents of the organization in 1975 – just a year after the chapter’s founding. He also served as president of the board, chairman of the trustees assembly, and treasurer for the organization.

In 1973, Maceo joined the Board of Directors for the newly formed “Community Foundation of Greater Washington” – a position he would hold for nearly a decade. His involvement on the board would be critical to establishing The Community Foundation’s relationship with the National Capital Area United Way, which continues to this day. Maceo passed away at his home in Chevy Chase in July 1991.

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Polly Shackleton moved to DC in 1939 to work on President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s third Presidential Campaign. After settling in Ward 3, she became heavily involved in politics after the war, becoming a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1956. In the 1960s she served alongside future DC Mayor Walter Washington on The Committee for a More Beautiful Capital, set up by First Lady Lady Bird Johnson.

Polly was a strong advocate for DC Home Rule. When President Johnson expanded the appointed form of DC government from a single commissioner to three in 1967, Polly was named to the council. In 1974, she won a seat on the first elected council, a position she would hold until her retirement in 1986.

Polly was among the first stakeholders engaged in conversations surrounding the forming of a “Community Foundation for Greater Washington”. Later that year, she joined the Board of Directors. Polly passed away in July 1997.

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Davidson Sommers came to Washington as the General Counsel for the World Bank in 1949. He later transitioned to the International Finance Corp, a World Bank affiliate, where he would stay until 1960, retiring as VP of the organization.

In 1951, Davidson was approached by Eugene Meyer about becoming President of a family foundation he had established six years earlier. He served as President of the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation until 1975, helping the organization grow from disbursing $70,000 in grants annually to disbursing $879,000 in 1974.

In 1972, Davidson was one of the first stakeholders engaged in conversations surrounding the forming of a “Community Foundation for Greater Washington”. In 1973, he was appointed to serve as the organization’s first Chairman of the Board of Directors. Davidson passed away in December 2000.

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Henry “Hank” Strong was born and raised in Washington, DC. His great-grandmother, Hattie M. Strong, was the wife of the co-founder and president of Eastman Kodak Company. She established the Hattie M. Strong Foundation in 1928, which Hank would later lead as President and CEO.

Hank served in the Navy during WWII. After the war, he joined the Foreign Service, stepping down in 1967 to take over leadership of his family’s foundation. Under Hank’s leadership, the Hattie M. Strong Foundation began a new focus on investing in the Greater Washington region. They invested extensively in neighborhoods impacted by the 1968 Race Riots and transitioned scholarship programs to support more local students.

In 1973, Hank joined the Board of Directors for the newly formed “Community Foundation for Greater Washington” – a position he would hold for more than two decades. He was heavily involved in the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers (WRAG), and mobilized the Hattie M. Strong Foundation to respond to community needs. Hank passed away in March 2007.

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Bishop John T. Walker was the first African-American to attend the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA. He began his ministry in the Greater Washington region in 1966, at the only integrated Episcopal Church in DC, serving some of the city's most economically challenged neighborhoods.

In 1973, he joined the Board of Directors for the newly formed "Community Foundation for Greater Washington," lending his support to setting up a new avenue for philanthropy in the region.

In 1977, he became the first African-American diocesan bishop for the Diocese of Washington (only the second African-American Bishop in the nation). He also served as the President of the Board of Directors of Africare -- an aid organization focused on community development in Sub-Saharan Africa -- from 1975 until his death in 1989. He was a close friend of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and a vocal opponent of the apartheid regime.

In honor of his legacy, the Episcopal Diocese of Washington organized The Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys in 2006 to address the serious educational challenges facing African American boys in the low-income communities east of the Anacostia River.

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Joseph L Whyte moved to Washington in 1946 to join American Security Bank, where he would work until 1978, retiring as the bank’s Vice Chairman. A WWII Navy Veteran, Whyte held a law degree from George Washington University, a graduate degree in Banking from Rutgers, and was a member of the Georgetown University Law Center faculty. He participated extensively in higher education fundraising and in 1965 was tapped to chair American University’s fifth annual sustaining fund drive.

In 1973, Joseph was one of the first stakeholders engaged in conversations surrounding the forming of a “Community Foundation for Greater Washington”. He played a critical role in securing support from local banks for the young foundation. Later that year, Joseph was named as the Secretary and Treasurer of the Board of Directors, where he served for a number of years. Joseph passed away in January 2000.

The Community Foundation Partners with Meyer Foundation in Support of Guaranteed Income Pilot in Prince George's County

To pursue our vision for economic justice, the Greater Washington Community Foundation is putting powerful economic strategies to work in the parts of our community experiencing the deepest disparities in homeownership and income.

With over 100 pilots currently operating around the country, guaranteed income programs have proven to be one of the most promising approaches to lift people out of poverty and provide greater economic stability for families.

We are proud to be an early adopter and investor in our region’s guaranteed income movement, with investments in programs in Arlington County (Arlington’s Guarantee), Montgomery County (MoCo Boost), and DC/regional (Let’s Go DMV!).

Now, we are excited to partner with the Meyer Foundation and Prince George’s County government to seed the first guaranteed income program in the county. The Prince George’s County Council recently approved legislation to create the $4 million pilot, which now must go through the budget reconciliation process. The exact details and specific population for this pilot are still being determined, but the program could provide up to $800 per month for 24 months to 200 people -- with no strings attached.

This pilot is being designed to give individuals and families increased flexibility and financial freedom to overcome whatever barriers they may face – whether it is meeting basic needs, paying down a debt, moving into permanent housing, furthering their education to secure a better job, or to stop working a second job and instead be home for more family time.

“The Meyer Foundation is glad to support guaranteed income pilot programs throughout our region, and now in Prince George’s County,” says Meyer Foundation President and CEO George L. Askew, M.D. “Programs like these have roots in the movement for racial justice and have emerged as one of the strongest tools available to us to co-create a future in our region where everyone belongs and thrives. We’re proud to partner with the Greater Washington Community Foundation among our growing list of partners to seed this and other local efforts.”

“Our hope is that these pilot programs will continue to stimulate economic mobility and help close the racial wealth gap in DC, Maryland, and Virginia by providing families with the resources, dignity, and agency to decide what’s best for them,” The Community Foundation President and CEO Tonia Wellons added. “In so doing, we help build consensus and public will to make guaranteed income a publicly funded instrument of community stability and prosperity.”

Read more about the Prince George’s pilot program here:

Washington Post

WTOP

Learn more about our investments in guaranteed income

Sharing the Love in Prince George's County

Earlier this month members of Sharing Prince George’s gathered at the iHOP in Bladensburg, MD to celebrate and recognize the work of nonprofit partners in Prince George’s County.

“It has been such a privilege to learn about your organizations and the incredible work that you do,” Sharing Prince George’s member Rufus Lusk, shared. “Your leadership and dedication to our community is truly inspiring.”

A donor-driven initiative, Sharing Prince George’s has spent the past year meeting with nonprofit organizations across the county. In alignment with The Community Foundation’s Strategic Vision, the group met primarily with organizations focused on the three key intervention areas of the racial wealth gap — Basic Needs, Economic Mobility, and Community Wealth Building. Of those, seven organizations were ultimately selected to receive a total of $200,000 in unrestricted funding.

The initiative also celebrated the second half funding for five organizations who received multi-year grants in 2022.

“The support we received from Sharing Prince George’s last year has allowed us to be more comprehensive in the way we do our work,” George Escobar, Chief of Programs and Services for CASA shared. “With their support, we were able to invest in the infrastructure of our organization in a way that better meets the needs of those we serve.”

The meeting marked the first in-person gathering for Sharing Prince George’s since before pandemic – allowing members and nonprofit leaders valuable opportunities to chat and network over coffee and stacks of iHOP pancakes. This year’s nonprofit partners provide a diverse range of services to the Prince George’s community – from housing rehabilitation and workforce development to promoting the arts and environmental efforts.

“It’s great to connect with so many incredible people,” one leader shared. “We all serve some of the same people in this community, so opportunities like this help open doors for collaborations that can take the work to the next level.”

For more information about Sharing Prince George’s, visit our website or contact Kate Daniels at kdaniels@thecommunityfoundation.org

Faces of Sharing - Getting to Know Sharing Montgomery Member, Gene Sachs

Gene Sachs is no stranger to The Community Foundation. A lifetime Montgomery County resident, successful corporate real estate advisor and alumni of the Leadership Greater Washington program, Gene joined The Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees in 2008. During his time on the Board, Gene would serve as Vice Chair, helping to expand The Community Foundation’s footprint in the Greater Washington region.

“My wife and I are firm believers in The Community Foundation,” Gene shared. “The impact that they make – and continue to make in the region, is truly phenomenal.”

However, it wasn’t until Gene stepped down from Board of Trustees and joined the Montgomery County advisory board that Gene was able to experience Sharing Montgomery.

“I wanted to understand more about what was going on at the grassroots level, here in Montgomery County,” Gene explained. “I wanted to know what was happening in on the grass roots level in places like Takoma Park and Wheaton – to really understand what was happening in the fabric of my outside of my bubble in Bethesda.”

On his first Sharing Montgomery site visit, Gene went to Wheaton HS, where he was introduced to a nonprofit working to help high school students from low-income neighborhoods prepare for college.

“I was just blown away by the work they were doing,” Gene remembered. “I immediately realized that I wanted to get more involved, however I could help them grow their mission and expand their reach.” Within a few years, Gene would join their Board of Directors.

Now in his third stint on the Sharing Montgomery Committee, Gene says he still enjoys every minute of it.

“I love hearing the passion from each of the presenters during our site visits – learning about the evolution of how they got to where they are now. I come away so inspired and humbled by the amount of work they are doing to change lives.”

Gene also shared how much he enjoyed seeing how Sharing Montgomery gave donors and partners a chance to network and collaborate at in-person site visits.

“A lot of times – after our in-person site visits – we’d get a lot of feedback from partners about how much they appreciated getting to see what other organizations are doing. Even though they sometimes work in the same field, just being able to hear what others are doing was enough to start a dialogue for potential partnerships.”

“Whether you’re a partner or a donor, Sharing Montgomery is a springboard for changemakers – convening outstanding leaders in the community and providing a better understanding of the transformative work being done in Montgomery County.”

Faces of Sharing - Getting to Know Sharing Prince George's Member Dr. Marcia Robinson

Dr. Marcia Robinson is the embodiment of ‘Prince George’s Proud’. A resident of Prince George’s County for more than 50 years, Dr. Robinson has spent much of that time in her community – as an entrepreneur and businesswoman, and as a pastor of the church she co-founded with her husband in Clinton, Maryland.

“I work in the community a lot,” Dr. Robinson explained. “I have thoroughly enjoyed it.”

“But working on Sharing Prince George’s has taken things to a whole ‘nother level!”

As a new member of Sharing Prince George’s Dr. Robinson had a chance to experience what she described as ‘collective philanthropy’ for the first time – working side by side with The Community Foundation and other donors to make impactful investments in her community.

“Before Sharing Prince George’s, I never thought of collective community-based giving as something I could do,” Dr. Robinson said. “I knew large companies like MGM could give community-wide, but Sharing Prince George’s allowed me to see how individuals can come together to help the broader community.”

Dr. Robinson added that she especially enjoyed working alongside fellow philanthropists as part of the grantmaking process.

“In Sharing Prince George’s, I got to work with talented professionals – people from all different backgrounds and skillsets – to make a larger, collective impact. I didn’t have to do [grantmaking] by myself; I didn’t need to reinvent the wheel to make a difference in my community. I was part of something bigger giving organizations the resources to help hundreds of families.” 

Dr. Robinson’s expertise as a community leader and an entrepreneur brought a powerful perspective to the grantmaking table – allowing her to connect with many of the nonprofit partners who presented to the committee.

“I loved seeing the enthusiasm that the nonprofits brought – you could feel the passion that they have in working for the betterment of the community,” she explained.

She was especially impressed with nonprofits partners who were focused on financial literacy and empowerment.

“One of the things that I really have a heart for is breaking down the racial divide and legacy wealth,” Dr. Robinson shared. “Giving people the resources, tools, and knowledge to improve their situation. That's really where my heart is.”

“Knowledge – and the application of it – is power.”

“If you give people a foundation and teach them, they can go forth to help improve their circumstances,” she concluded. “That’s what this work is all about: giving people the foundation to springboard to a better life.

Faces of Sharing - Getting to Know Sharing DC Member Maggie Prieto

First-time Sharing DC members Maggie Prieto and her husband Mark Michael started their Donor-Advised Fund with The Community Foundation this past year.

“The Community Foundation really fit with our giving philosophy,” Maggie explained. “We were impressed with how purposeful and in sync they were with our philanthropic values.”

A former Civil Rights Disabilities Lawyer with the US Department of Justice, Maggie has been heavily involved in the DC nonprofit scene for several decades – generously donating money, time, and professional expertise to champion the cause of changemakers in the region. In addition to working at organizations like The National Council de La Raza (now known as UnidosUS) and Ayuda, Maggie has served on the boards of the Latin American Youth Center, Mary’s Center, and the Rosemount Center.

So when Maggie and Mark were invited to join Sharing DC, they were intrigued at the possibility of learning more about the evolution of a field they know so well.

Mark is an entrepreneur; a political science major who moved to DC from California with the idea of starting an up-scale catering company. Years later, Maggie and Mark say they have a deep appreciation for young entrepreneurs – especially in the social impact space.

“Part of why we joined Sharing DC was to learn more about ‘social impact entrepreneurs’ – smaller organizations with new and exciting ideas about how to make an impact in DC. We wanted to learn more about the work they’re doing and how it aligns with the organizations we already support.”

Maggie and Mark also enjoyed meeting and working with fellow philanthropists from a variety of different backgrounds and experiences.

“It is so important in philanthropy to have a diversity of voices at the table,” Maggie explained. “Diversity allows you to have a deeper and richer understanding of what’s possible and the resources, tools, and ideas that are required to do the work.”

As a daughter of immigrants who worked extensively with immigrant populations over her professional career, Maggie was able to bring a unique perspective to the group that helped inform the grantmaking process. She was also able to make a small personal grant to one of the applicants that didn’t receive funding.

“I think informed philanthropy is much more effective philanthropy. When you meet the leaders of an organization, learn about their mission, what drives them and the impact they’re having – you are empowered to do so much more compared to simply giving to an organization because a close friend recommended it to you.”

“If you’re committed to making your community better through philanthropy, Sharing DC gives you a great opportunity to gain invaluable insight and connect with other folks who are doing the same thing.”

Community Foundation's Sharing Community Funds Announce $810,000 in Funding for Regional Nonprofits

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is excited to announce $810,000 in grants awarded through its Sharing Community Funds this past cycle.

The Sharing Community Funds bring together donors who share our passion for building more equitable, just, and thriving communities.  With expert facilitation by Community Foundation staff, donors join together to learn first-hand about the challenges facing our community. Thanks to the generosity of this growing community of givers, together we discover and invest in visionary nonprofits working on the frontlines of our region’s most pressing needs.   

In alignment with our Strategic Vision, the Sharing Community Funds focused on the three intervention areas of the racial wealth gap — Basic Needs, Economic Mobility, and Community Wealth Building.

See Below for a complete list of our nonprofit partners for 2023, sorted by category.

Photo Courtesy of Montgomery County Food Council

2023 Sharing Community Fund
Nonprofit Partners - Basic Needs

• Sharing DC Grant Recipients

  Dreaming Out Loud (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to create economic opportunity for DC’s marginalized communities through creating a healthy, equitable food system by driving a new framework for sustainable economic development for Black and Brown DC residents, food entrepreneurs, and farmers in our region.

  DC Greens to advance health equity and systemic change through advocacy and direct service programs, including Food is Medicine and urban farming.

  DC Kincare Alliance (2023 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to provide legal, financial, and related services to relative caregivers who step up to at-risk DC children in times of crisis when their parents are not able to care for them.

  Safe Sister Circle to provide holistic, trauma-informed services to Black women and girls from DC Ward’s 7 and 8 who are survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

• Sharing Montgomery Grant Recipients

  AfriThrive to empower African immigrants to grow and share healthy, culturally appropriate produce with residents facing food insecurity.

  Black and Brown Coalition (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to engage underserved families to advocate for federal, state, and local supports of intensive and research-based academic interventions targeted toward students with the greatest need.

  Care for Your Health for culturally sensitive in-home health care for seniors.

  Community Bridges, Inc to empower girls in elementary, middle and high schools through leadership development, college and career readiness, and family support and mentoring.

  Crittenton Services of Greater Washington to help teenage girls achieve academic and personal success through virtual and school-based cohort programs.

  Crossroads Community Food Network to provide training and support for startup food businesses, healthy eating education, and farmers’ market nutrition incentives at the popular Crossroads Farmers Market.

  Horizons Greater Washington to support students from low-income families with academic, artistic, and athletic activities for nine years, from kindergarten through eighth grade.

  Manna Food Center to work to eliminate hunger through food distribution, healthy eating education, and advocacy.

  Mary's Center for health care, education, social services, and ongoing COVID-19 response that builds a healthier and stronger community.

  Montgomery County Food Council (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to build a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable local food system. Its leadership helps the many county food providers strategically work together to better serve the 100,000+ residents who do not know where their next meal will come from.

  Montgomery Housing Partnership, Inc (MHP) to develop affordable rental housing and offer Community Life programs that support young children and their families at home, ultimately strengthening neighborhoods.

  National Alliance on Mental Illness of Montgomery County (NAMI MC) to provide comprehensive support, education, advocacy and public awareness to promote recovery for those affected by mental illness.

  Rainbow Community Development Corporation to fund food security relief and other services including eviction and utility cutoff prevention, and temporary shelter, job search and resume assistance.

• Sharing Prince George's Grant Recipients

  Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Prince George’s County (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to partner with the juvenile court to improve the lives of children living in foster care who have suffered from abuse and neglect. With a strong commitment to diversity, CASA/ Prince George’s County trains and supervises volunteers from the community who advocate for the best interest of children, recognizing and respecting each child’s individual needs. By providing a voice to children in the foster care system, it’s goal is to help children and promote the timely placement of those they serve in safe, permanent homes.

  Community Crisis Services Inc. (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to provide compassionate crisis support through its hotline, safe-shelter programs and information and referral services.

  Community and Family Youth Services (CAFY) (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to guide child crime victims in Prince George’s County through the process of testifying in court. CAFY empowers victims and their families to gain the confidence to help hold offenders accountable, restore families and educate the community. They are the designated victim services provider for the four largest law enforcement departments in Prince George’s County. Their mission is “to embrace, educate, and empower those impacted, affected or harmed by crime or trauma on their journey to justice and healing”. All victims are embraced – irrespective of age, gender, religion, ethnic background or sexual orientation.

  Hillside Work Scholarship Connection (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to provide compassionate crisis support through its hotline, safe-shelter programs and information and referral services.

  Sowing Empowerment & Economic Development (SEED) to provide food, education, and training while promoting self-sufficiency and empowerment directly to low-to-moderate-income families.

Photo Courtesy of CollegeTracks

2023 Sharing Community Fund
Nonprofit Partners - Economic Mobility

• Sharing DC Grant Recipients

  Beloved Community Incubator (2023 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to help workers create and maintain their own businesses through worker owned cooperatives, collective projects, and business ownership.

  Young Doctors DC to provide mentoring, educational programming, and service-learning opportunities to encourage high school boys in Southeast DC to pursue healthcare careers.

• Sharing Montgomery Grant Recipients

  Career Catchers (2023 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to provide personalized employment and job skills counseling for low-income and chronically under-employed residents.

  CollegeTracks (2023 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to improve college access and retention rates for students at risk of not attending college, primarily first-generation, low-income, minority, and immigrant youth.

  Future Link to provide career counseling, mentoring, tutoring, academic advising, scholarships, and internships to help connect disadvantaged youth to post-secondary educational opportunities.

  Generation Hope to mentor and provide scholarships for teen parents pursuing college degrees. It also delivers early childhood resources so scholars’ children begin kindergarten with a strong academic foundation.

  Identity, Inc to serve Latino and other historically underserved youths and their families. Identity helps youths develop social and emotional skills, excel in school, and get ready to enter the workforce.

  Interfaith Works to provide emergency assistance and counseling, vocational services, food distributions, clothing, and shelter for those experiencing homelessness.

  Kingdom Global Community Development Corporation to distribute food, diapers, and COVID-19 support at the East County Services Consolidation Hub, along with other public-private partnerships that address food security, health and wellness, education, employment, and housing.

  Montgomery College Foundation to support the Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success (ACES) program that provides underrepresented students with a seamless and supportive pathway to a bachelor’s degree.

  Per Scholas National Capital Region (NCR) to run an intensive technology training course that empowers individuals – especially people of color, women, and young adults – to pursue high-growth tech careers.

  Red Wiggler Community Farm to support on-farm training and education for adults with developmental disabilities. Half of its organic produce is donated to low-income households throughout the county.

  Sheppard Pratt (formerly Family Services) for clinical health services, rehabilitation services, services to children youth and families, and community and family services, such as Linkages to Learning and domestic violence supports.

  The Upcounty Hub to supply families with food, healthcare assistance, and connections to other essential resources, while maintaining their privacy and dignity.

• Sharing Prince George's Grant Recipients

  CASA de Maryland, Inc. (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working class and immigrant communities. Their vision is for a future in which immigrants stand in their own power, their families live free from discrimination and fear, and diverse communities thrive as they work with partners to achieve full human rights for all.

  Community Outreach & Development CDC to provide resources that meet the varying needs of households in a compassionate center approach, that focuses on the needs of individual households. Particular focuses of this grant will be to expand partnership with Oxon Hill Elementary School, increase healthy food options and emergency financial support.

  Ivy Community Charities to provide community outreach through education, health, leadership development, cultural arts and economic empowerment. Economic self-sufficiency programs cover financial literacy, budgeting, banking, investing, scholarships, career planning and work transition skills

  Joe's Movement Emporium to offer creative cultural experiences supporting arts education, job training, and building a creative community. Recently, the nonprofit’s work has included establishment of a Suitland location and expansion of their presence in the area.

  The Training Source to provide education, training, and services that promote positive economic mobility for residents. A priority of this grant would be to better meet the demand for services by expanding to serve additional clients.

Photo Courtesy of IMPACT Silver Spring

2023 Sharing Community Fund
Nonprofit Partners -
Individual & Community Wealth Building

• Sharing DC Grant Recipients

  Empower DC (2022 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to enhance, improve and promote the self-advocacy of low- and moderate-income DC residents through grassroots organizing, popular education style training, leadership development, and member-led campaigns strategically designed to influence pressing social issues impacting our constituency.

  Marshall Heights Community Development Organization to increase economic equity through advancements in homeownership, employment, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and public safety.

• Sharing Montgomery Grant Recipients

  Capital Area Asset Building Corporation to provide financial literacy and matched savings programs, enabling low-income residents to become financially stable and pursue their dreams.

  IMPACT Silver Spring (2023 Multi-Year Grant Recipient) to fund community-building work for a racially and economically equitable community in which people can take collaborative action to enact lasting change.

  Montgomery Moving Forward to convene leaders from government, business, philanthropy, education, and nonprofits to solve complex problems facing the county. Through capacity building programs, MMF’s leaders advocate around pressing issues of economic opportunity and early childhood education.

  Nonprofit Montgomery to support local organizations with government relations, advocacy, strategic communications, financial management, metrics tracking, and cross-sector problem solving. With this support, grantees of Sharing Montgomery can access personalized support and connections to help deepen their impact.

• Sharing Prince George's Grant Recipients

  Central Kenilworth Avenue Revitalization (CKAR) to implement projects in the Greater Riverdale community, including community and economic development, workforce training, environmental sustainability, business retention, and advocacy efforts. In part, this grant will support a café training program focused on financial stability for participants.

  Housing Initiative Partnership to provide neighborhood revitalization through innovative, green housing development and counseling – including bilingual housing counseling and financial coaching.

EMCEE ANNOUNCED FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF PHILANTHROPY ON MAY 3!

Shawn Yancy is an Emmy award winning broadcast journalist. She anchors the 5pm and 11pm and weekday newscasts at NBC4 in Washington, DC. Prior to joining NBC4, Shawn worked at FOX 5 News DC for 19 years; and served as a primary weekday anchor for 17 years. Her 2nd day on the job in DC became her first big story: the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 

Shawn’s 25+ years as broadcast journalist have allowed her to share and tell meaningful and impactful stories about the people and community she serves. Her experience has earned her a number of prestigious journalism awards including: the Edward R. Murrow Award for an investigative series at the National Institutes of Health.

Shawn is an advocate of giving back. In 2010, Shawn founded Girls’ Night Out by Shawn Yancy Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving and empowering the lives of women and children in need. Shawn has served on a the board of directors for A Wider Circle, Dress For Success DC and The St. Ann’s Center for Children Youth & Families. Along with her fellow DC newswomen, Shawn helps spearhead an annual breast cancer fundraiser for local cancer charities serving the underserved.

Shawn is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and a professional artist with clients nationwide. 

In her spare time, Shawn loves to read, travel and spend time with her husband and sons. She also loves really spicy food, sushi, and jelly belly sours… but not necessarily in that order.

Shawn and her husband have 3 wonderful sons, a daughter in-love, 2 dogs and live in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Her favorite saying is: “If the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count”. It’s a phrase her mother has been instilling in her for as long as she can remember. It’s a reminder that all things are possible with God’s help.

Statement on Proposed FY2024 DC Budget

As a foundation committed to ending homelessness and increasing deeply affordable housing - and to leveraging private sector investment for these purposes - we are deeply troubled that the proposed FY2024 DC budget represents a major step backwards in our collective effort to address homelessness and housing instability, after years of laudable progress. By cutting programs that prevent homelessness and by failing to expand housing opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, the proposed budget would likely lead to a major increase in evictions, a growing number of residents living in unsafe or unhealthy conditions, an increase in homelessness, and wider racial and economic inequity in DC.

Despite some signs of economic progress, the reality for most DC residents with low incomes, nearly all of whom are Black or Brown, is much starker. Rents are rising sharply, even in rent-controlled units, while high food prices are increasing hunger and food insecurity. The phase out of federal pandemic aid has led to cuts in SNAP benefits and a risk that many will lose Medicaid coverage. It is no wonder that nearly 40,000 DC renter households pay more than half their income for housing or that emergency rental assistance funds (ERAP) ran out less than half-way into the year. People are having to make difficult choices between paying for rent, food, or prescriptions.

This is no time to cut programs vital to ending homelessness and increasing housing stability. Yet, the proposed FY 2024 budget would cut ERAP by more than 80 percent and cut the Project Reconnect homelessness prevention program in half. It would provide no funds to expand permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness, stopping progress that has been made every year since 2014.

We urge the DC Council to reverse deep budget cuts in critical housing and homelessness programs, and to use the budget to make continued momentum toward ensuring everyone in DC has housing they can afford.

Fill Out A Survey To Be a Part of Our Celebration of Philanthropy!

We are seeking to highlight current and former community partners, nonprofit partners, donors, board members and friends as part of a special 50th Anniversary Exhibit.

Responses will be showcased at our Celebration of Philanthropy Event on May 3, 2023 at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Please take a moment to fill out this short, 3-question survey!

Performers Announced for 50th Anniversary Celebration of Philanthropy on May 3!

We’re excited to share the line-up of incredible performers for the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Philanthropy at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on May 3, 2023. To get your tickets to the Celebration, please visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org/celebration.

After School Dance Fund/Baila4Life

The ASDF initiative aims to create a consistent, safe, equitable and inclusive space for students, free of bullying, where they can participate in a positive group activity with peers. Participants learn the steps and the cultural background of Latin dancing and showcase their skills through choreographed performances at the culmination of the program. Through this process, students discover the importance of working hard towards a goal as well as living a healthy lifestyle. Latin dance has become a vehicle for increased cultural awareness and school pride, while also promoting exercise and having fun. ASDF believes that these learned qualities help each student become a more confident person, leading to better academic performance in school, and paving the way to opportunities in higher education and beyond.

Christylez Bacon 

Christylez Bacon is a GRAMMY® Nominated Progressive Hip-Hop artist and multi-instrumentalist from Southeast, Washington, DC. As a performer, Christylez multi-tasks between various instruments such as the West African djembe drum, acoustic guitar, and the human beat-box (oral percussion), all while continuing the oral tradition of storytelling through his lyrics.

With a mission towards cultural acceptance and unification through music, Christylez is constantly pushing the envelope – from performances at the National Cathedral, to becoming the first Hip-Hop artist to be featured at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, composing and orchestrating an entire concert for a 12-piece orchestra commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Smithsonian Institute, or recording a Folk/Hip-Hop children’s album. He is the recipient of multiple honors awarded by the Washington Area Music Association including 2013 Artist of the Year, and the Montgomery County Executive Award for Excellence in the Arts, and has even been honored as a 2012 “Library Superhero” by Friends of the Library, Montgomery County.

DJ Face

DJ Face is a member of the True School Corporation, an organization of DJ’s founded and run by Grammy Award winning producer and DJ, 9th Wonder. Currently, Face is the tour DJ for Grammy nominated Jamla/Roc Nation artist, Rapsody, as well as Grammy nominated R&B/Soul singer Raheem DeVaughn. Face has performed in major venues nationally and internationally in places such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Germany, Aruba and more. Some of DJ Face’s current list of clients include: Nordstrom, Saks, and Macy’s.

DJ Face can be heard over the DC/MD/VA airwaves spinning on Majic 102.3/92.7FM on the midday mix with Vic Jagger, as well as every Saturday night from 7-10 p.m. with host, Ric Chill.

Eastern Senior High School Blue and White Marching Machine

Known for its competitive spirit, superior sound, and visually appealing performances, The Blue and White Marching Machine is one of the most celebrated marching bands in the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area; consistently ranked among the best in the Mid-Atlantic United States.  For almost four decades the Marching Machine has consistently thrilled hundreds of thousands of spectators in person and millions on television.  The Marching Machine is master of a diverse and varied repertoire ranging from traditional patriotic standards to Billboard’s Hot 100.

MetroStage

MetroStage presents a season of contemporary plays and musicals, chosen for their social, political, literary, and entertainment value. The collaborative work of professional Equity actors, directors, and designers results in productions representing the highest artistic standards. MetroStage presents original, challenging, innovative work and is recognized for its role in the development of new plays and musicals for the American stage. The theatre is committed to maintaining a diverse, equitable, anti-racist, fully inclusive environment on stage and off, with its work reflecting and embracing the diversity of the Washington DC/Northern Virginia population. The intimacy of the theatre and its multicultural productions offer both the audience and the artists a unique, powerful theatre experience. Currently MetroStage is building a new theatre and during this interim phase it is serving its patrons by presenting readings and a monthly cabaret series covering a broad range of musical genres.

Levine Music

Levine Music is a welcoming community with diverse and comprehensive offerings in music instruction tailored to create the richest and most fulfilling experiences for our students and families, as well as events and performances to inspire music lovers of all ages. Levine’s core values – excellence and opportunity – infuse everything we do. The preeminent center for music education in the Greater Washington region, Levine is committed to offering instruction of the highest quality and performance opportunities to anyone regardless of age, ability, or financial means. Founded in 1976 in memory of prominent Washington attorney and amateur adult music student Selma M. Levine, today, Levine provides music instruction to more than 3,500 students weekly at six physical campuses throughout Greater Washington, as well as a permanent virtual campus. Levine’s distinguished faculty offer a broad and well-rounded curriculum that provides a strong musical foundation for students of different ages, abilities, and interests. Hundreds of students receive substantial scholarship assistance; many hundreds more receive free instruction through community partnership programs.

SOLE Defined

SOLE Defined is the Washington Metro area’s leading arts organization specializing in percussive dance – using the body as an instrument to create musical expression, specifically, Tap Dance, Body Percussion, and Sand Dance. Ryan K. Johnson, Executive Artistic Director, and Quynn Johnson, Director of Arts Education (no relation), merge their expertise in education, performance, social justice, and community outreach to advance respect for African Diasporic percussive dance practices and to raise admiration for the genre as a vital part of concert dance and academia. These award-winning colleagues use a synthesis of sonic and kinesthetic movement methodologies, embodied storytelling, integrated media, and historical data to serve actively disinvested communities while combating systemic racism and advancing equality in the dance continuum. SOLE Defined performances center on social-political issues advancing the devolvement of bridges toward Belonging and cultivating a more equitable landscape for generations of BIPOC practitioners. SOLE Defined’s programs include local, regional, national, and international engagements and services. SD continues establishing its visibility by cultivating programming for the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Queens Theatre, Lincoln Center, and The International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD). 

Book Group Recap: Collective Courage with Dr. Jessica Gordon-Nembhard

Dr. Gordon-Nembhard defines a Cooperative for the DMV Community Book Group

Our quarterly DMV Community Book Group dove into the world of Cooperative Economics with Dr. Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Professor at City University of New York and author of the book Collective Courage: The History of African American Economic Thought and Practice. The discussion was attended by a wide range of community partners including representatives from cooperatives across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

“Cooperative economics is the origin of our economic system,” Dr. Gordon-Nembhard explained. “It’s a concept has played a vital role in nearly every population in human history – especially amongst African Americans and other people of color.”

Cooperatives have long played a significant role in African American communities within the Greater Washington region – one which Dr. Gordon-Nembhard is intimately familiar with. A long-time DC resident, Dr. Gordon-Nembhard is an active member of Organizing Neighborhood Equity (ONE) DC and is active in campaigns to establish cooperative housing in DC.

Dr. Gordon-Nembhard spent years researching the history and impact of African American economic cooperatives across the region and the country – documenting more than 160 legally incorporated African American-owned cooperatives from mid-1800s to 2013.

“As African Americans, we started using coops for survival – but overtime we were able to position them to control our own communities, both politically and economically.”

Dr. Gordon-Nembhard outlines the four different types of Economic Cooperatives.

Dr. Gordon-Nembhard explained how the Black Cooperative movement helped African American communities overcome challenging times including economic recessions in the 1880s and 1930s, as well as ongoing economic racial discrimination. She pointed out that the Black Cooperative Movement paralleled – and at times overlapped with the Long Civil Rights Movement, involving Civil Rights icons from across the spectrum such as Ella Jo Baker, W.E.B. DuBois, and the Black Panthers.

“Some people think that to close the racial wealth gap, we just need more wealthy people of color, so the wealth gap will close, based on numbers alone,” Dr. Gordon-Nembhard shared. “I’m more interested in ending poverty – creating stable, lasting systems that enable us to all be prosperous.”

“That’s what cooperative economics are about – creating collective enterprises that not only impact individual lives, but that systematically change how we think about getting out of poverty.”

When asked about the future of the cooperative movement, Dr. Gordon-Nembhard pointed to the growing number of cooperatives over the past few years. For example, the DC region has one of the highest concentrations of housing coops in the US (second only to New York).

“Figure out what’s the need that a cooperative could solve and then take time to study out what kind of cooperative could work for your community.”

“Start where the people are,” she said. “Rather than scaling something big from the top down, start small with something people can get behind – a community playground or food coop and build from there.”

“Once you get people working together – maximizing the skills that each individual has and brings to the table – then you can move onto something bigger.”

Click here to watch a full recording of the March 2023 DMV Community Book Group!