Strengthening Ward One Together kickoff meeting, 1/22

As the recession and high unemployment batter Ward 1 residents, the very social services people turn to for help are falling victim to budget cuts. If our Ward 1 safety net fails, the consequences will affect everyone for a long time to come.

. . . But we can make sure this doesn’t happen! Together members of the Ward 1 community can weather this storm by efficiently and strategically using what remains of the safety net.

Join Ward 1 CM Jim Graham and Strengthening Ward One Together for a meeting to kickoff this new collaborative and mutually supportive effort.   The event is being held on January 22 from 9:30 - 11:30 am at Columbia Heights Youth Club (1480 Girard St NW).

SWOTInviteJG

Free workshops for adult literacy professionals

Free winter/spring adult education workshops have just been announced by the Adult Education Professional Development Center (AEPDC) at D.C. LEARNs.   The workshops will offer training in topics and skills for teachers, tutors, volunteers, and program staff working in ABE, GED, and adult ESOL.   Check out the schedule on the D.C. Learns calendar.

Writers needed to help neighborhood budding young writers

This from Greater DC Cares:

Do you have an idea about how to get students excited about writing?   Bring it to Parkview!   Help the teens and elementary school students get in touch with their inner lyricist, poet, or writer every Monday evening at the Parkview Recreation Center.   Lend your passion for words and creativity, or just become a mentor to a student in the neighborhood.   To sign up, email Ashley Wood at ashleyawood (at) gmail (dot) com.

The featured WPC resource of the week is. . .

... brand-spanking new (used) speakers!   If you are a local activist or advocate and you need speakers for a rally or educational event, you can now borrow them from the Washington Peace Center for a sliding scale donation of $25-$100.   For more information about this and other resources, including contact information to borrow the speakers, go the the WPC resource page on the Web site.

State of Shaw Middle School Summit and Open House, January 9

Does your child attend Shaw Middle School?   Are you interested in learning more about student progress or how the school is using data to inform practice and policies?

Then plan on attending the State of Shaw Middle School Summit and Open House on Saturday, January 9 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.   The summit/open house is being held at Garnet-Patterson (2001 10th Street, NW).   The event will feature such open house sessions as:

• Daily life
• Literacy/Math initiatives
• Data driven instruction

Lunch will be provided.   Additional information is provided in the flier, below.

State of Shaw Summit Flyer

Ward 1 students present plans for White House Visitors' Center

Twenty-four students from Browne Education Campus and Lincoln Middle School at Columbia Heights Education Campus spent the fall of 2009 participating in the CityVision semester.   During this time, the students planned a White House visitors' center.   These students will present their plans and discuss the creative process at a January 8 event sponsored by the National Building Museum.   CityVision Fall 2009 Final Presentation is being held from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the museum in the Great Hall.   More information about the event is available online at the National Building Museum's Web site.

DC Food For All ~ Potluck and Community Circle

Welcome the DC Food for All potluck event in Ward 1 on January 17 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm at Potter’s House (1658 Columbia Road, NW).   Join other DC residents who are acting to expand availability of healthy, affordable, and sustainable food!

This month’s discussion will be led by members of Rooting DC; they are planning DC’s 3rd annual Urban Gardening conference.   Doors open at 5:00 pm; the discussion and dinner will start at 6:00 pm.   Donations are appreciated, but no one will be turned away.

Here are some potluck tips:

• Don’t have food to bring this time? Don’t panic!   Come with your ideas, passion and hunger.   Just come!
• Support local farmers!   Go shopping at Dupont Circle farmers market on Sunday morning and prepare a delicious dish using fresh seasonal produce!
• The Potter’s House is alcohol-free… please do not bring any!
• If you can label ingredients in any food that you prepare and bring to share, please do!

RSVP:   dcfoodforall (at) gmail (dot) com.