Legal Aid Society's new clinic times

DC's Legal Aid Society has new clinic hours in their northwest and southeast locations.   Details are in the fliers below (English and Spanish).
Legal Aid Society of DC Locations and Hours

Legal Aid Society of DC Locations and Hours Spanish

Hundreds benefit from Part D clinics

You may remember that the Legal Aid Society and Whitman-Walker offered assistance to seniors during Medicare's open season for Part D (see Help is out there for choosing a new Medicare Part D plan).

A few days ago, Legal Aid gave a big shout out to the Part D clinic volunteers.   And rightly so.   Nearly 350 clients were served and many were able to save money by changing plans.

This is what happens when people work together.   This is what happens when people help others.

ANC 1B's revised community grant policies

ANC 1B has announced that policies governing grants to community organizations serving residents of the ANC have been revised.   The Commission voted on and approved the changes on January 7; they are here.

From Jim Irwin, Staff Director ANC 1B:

Any community organization interested in applying for a grant should contact the Commissioner representing the single-member district in which the organization is located.   Organizations should work closely with their ANC Commissioner in developing and presenting their grant proposal to the full Commission.

A map of ANC 1B single-member districts and a list of Commissioners with contact information can be found at our website, http://www.anc1b.org/.

The standard grant application form can be found in the Library section of our website at http://www.anc1b.org/library.html or by contacting Jim Irwin, Staff Director.

Please address comments or questions regarding these policies to the ANC 1B Commissioner representing the single-member district in which you reside.

Jim Irwin's contact information is:   PO Box 73710, WDC 20056, (202) 870-4202, http://www.anc1b.org/.

CARECEN expands Immigration Legal Services Program hours

Starting on January 19, CARECEN's Immigration Legal Services Program is expanding its intake times to include five intake sessions per week in immigration cases.   New intake hours are:

• Mondays:   9:00 - 11:00 am
• Tuesdays:   1:00 - 3:00 pm and 5:00 - 7:00 pm
• Wednesdays:   9:00 - 11:00 am
• Thursdays:   1:00 - 3:00 pm

The Central American Resource Center is adding evening hours (Tuesdays) starting January 19.

CARECEN will take the first 10 people who walk-in.   No appointments are needed.

ANC 1A 2010 meeting schedule

ANC 1A invites residents, organizations, businesses, and others interested in the life and well being of this part of Ward 1 to attend monthly meetings and get involved.   Cliff Valenti, commissioner of ANC 1A08, wrote this about the meetings:

ANC 1A meetings consider a wide range of policies and programs affecting Columbia Heights, Park View, and Pleasant Plains including:   development, traffic, crime and quality of life, recreation, liquor licenses, zoning, economic development, police protection, and the District's annual budget.

More information is available by going online to www.ANC1A.org or www.anc1a08.org.

2010 schedule of ANC 1A meetings held at Harriet Tubman Elementary School (3101 13th Street, NW):

• February 10
• March 10
• April 07
• May 12
• June 9
• July 14
• September 8
• October 13
• November 10
• December 8

Criminal Justice Public Forum - January 25

The Northwest Columbia Heights Community Association (NWCHCA) is hosting a Criminal Justice Public Forum on January 25 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at St. Stephens and the Incarnation Episcopal Church, 1525 Newton Street NW.   The purpose of the forum is to provide community members an opportunity to hear more about DC’s criminal justice process and to ask key leaders questions face-to-face.   All are welcome at this free event and refreshments will be served.

Panelists are:

• Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy Lanier
• Ward One Councilmember Jim Graham
• DC Superior Courts Chief Judge Lee Satterfield
• DC Deputy Attorney General Robert Hildum
• Executive Assistant US Attorney for External Affairs Albert Herring
• Pretrial Services Agency Deputy Director Cliff Keenan
• Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1A Chair Cliff Valenti
• Court Watch Leader for MPD’s 5th District Kathy Henderson
• NWCHCA President and CCJAI Leader Cecilia Jones
• Moderator:   Sam Ford, ABC 7 News

The Community Criminal Justice Accountability Initiative (CCJAI) gives community members a way to become more aware and to intervene effectively in criminal cases.   CCJAI has been piloted in PSA 302 since April 1, 2009.

From CM Graham on recreation opportunity

This from Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham (posted on the U Street Yahoo Group January 8, 2010):

Dear Friends:

Yesterday, the District of Columbia purchased the Mary & Daniel Loughran Clubhouse No. 10 at 14th and Clifton Streets, NW.   The Department of Parks and Recreation will soon request proposals from community groups to operate programs there.   In the interim, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington will manage programs and the facility.

A special appreciation goes to Mayor Fenty and Chairman Gray for their leadership in bringing this about.

I have authored $1 million in funding in two separate years to support programs and capital improvements at No. 10.   Last year, I authored the $750,000 which is being used to keep programs running during the transition period.   I also assembled a working group of advocates, the No. 10 Parents Association, Linda Edmundson, Denise Credle, Hanif Hill and others to get $20 million to include No. 10 and Eastern Branch in the city's purchase of three clubs.

Clubhouse No. 10 has offered recreational and mentoring programs for over 30 years.   Alumni have gone on to play in the NBA and NFL, start businesses and lead very productive lives.   I am pleased this tradition will be continued.   This is a major victory for the Columbia Heights neighborhood and all of Ward One.

Bests, Councilmember Jim Graham