bloomingdale: Ward 5 Report: Reclaiming Our Community from Gun Violence; Resolutions Introduced at the Council; & Senior Bingo!

From: Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie [mailto:kmcduffie=dccouncil.us@mail204.sea51.mcsv.net] On Behalf Of Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie
Sent: Thursday, October 5, 2017 11:07 AM
Subject: Ward 5 Report: Reclaiming Our Community from Gun Violence; Resolutions Introduced at the Council; & Senior Bingo!

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Reclaiming Our Community, photo taken about 10pm last Friday night in the Brentwood neighborhood.

Neighbors,

Last Friday night, I gathered with community members, activists, and leaders and we stated clearly and loudly -- we are Reclaiming Our Community! We held a press conference, and then marched through the streets of Edgewood, Brookland, and Brentwood. The walk concluded at a park that was the site of Zaire Kelly’s murder and we spent the entire night there. You may have seen coverage on the evening news.

At around 2:00 AM that night, we led a Solution Circle focused on next steps and identifying tangible actions that the community can take to combat the issue of illegal guns. This is not an issue we can arrest our way out of -- it will take our entire community, neighbors and local businesses working with government and community organizations to tackle this problem. We will continue to gather ideas and resources and I invite you to share your own on my website. We will be taking all the ideas, possible solutions, and resources we receive and continuing the conversation and engagement.

There are two specific items that I can offer in the near term to get involved:

Tonight, Thursday, October 5 there is an emergency meeting with Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in response to attacks in and around the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metro Station targeting students of certain DC high schools. These events have become so regular that some parents who cannot personally drive their students to school are keeping them home entirely. That meeting will take place this evening, October 5 at the Brentwood Rec Center from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM. MPD will be there to hear the concerns of parents and residents, and offer its plan to ensure safe passage for our students on their way to school.
On Friday night we were joined by Kenneth Ward, the Executive Director of College Bound, the program Zaire Kelly was coming home from the night he was killed. Kenneth shared with the community that College Bound does not have enough adult mentors and there is actually a waiting list for kids who want to be a part of the program. In Washington, D.C. – the city with the highest rate of residents with college degrees in the entire country – we have more kids interested in college than adults that will help them achieve that dream. I encourage you to learn more about – and get involved with – a community organization that supports our young people.

I look forward to hearing your ideas and continuing the work to reclaim our community.

In service,

Kenyan

In this issue of the Ward 5 Report:

Legislative Update

At Tuesday's Legislative Meeting, Councilmemeber McDuffie introduced two resolutions:

Sense of the Council in Support of Legislative Action to Protect Temporary Protected Status Resolution of 2017

This resolution, co-introduced by the entire 13-member Council, seeks to encourage Congress to pass legislation that will protect the approximately 300,000 beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status [TPS].

Upon introduction of this resolution, Councilmember McDuffie said: “Temporary Protected Status shelters people from returning to their countries that are experiencing ongoing armed conflicts, environmental disasters, or extraordinary life-threatening conditions.

The 300,000 people under Temporary Protected Status are our neighbors and community members. They contribute to our culture, as well as contributing approximately $4.5 billion to our country’s economic growth annually. Congress should act so that the 300,000 people living in the United States legally under TPS protection can continue to do so.”

Sense of the Council on Establishing Race, Equity, and Social Justice Resolution of 2017
This resolution, co-introduced by the entire 13-member Council, seeks to encourage the District of Columbia Government to join a growing, nationwide network of municipal governments that are taking proactive steps to address the fact that, despite progress, there is still deep inequity along racial lines in the District of Columbia. This resolution seeks to advance fundamental practices for equity and social justice in District-wide decision-making efforts in order to increase fairness and opportunity for all people of color, low-income communities and people with limited English language skills.

With introduction of this resolution, Councilmember McDuffie said: “This resolution encourages D.C. to implement a four year plan that will encourage the government to consider race, equity, and social justice as fundamental principles in policy-making and that will allow everyone in the District full and equal access to the opportunities for growth in D.C.”

Kenyan in the Community

October Ward 5 Monthly Meetings

The following groups meet on the following dates in the month of October. Councilmember McDuffie or a representative from his office attend each meeting.

Rebuilding the Lamond-Riggs Library

This spring, Councilmember McDuffie secured $20 million for the rebuilding of the Lamond-Riggs Library a year sooner than previously budgeted. Join your friends and neighbors for the first meeting to learn about the project timeline and process for community engagement.

DATE: Thursday, October 5
TIME: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
LOCATION: Lamond-Riggs Library, 5410 South Dakota Avenue NE

Ward 5 Senior Bingo

Bus transportation will be provided from each of the Ward 5 senior buildings. You do not have to be a resident of a building to reserve a seat. To reserve your seat, RSVP by signing up with the resident council or building manager or by calling Marita in Councilmember McDuffie's office at (202) 724-8028.

DATE: Wednesday, October 18
TIME: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
LOCATION: North Michigan Park Recreation Center, 1333 Emerson Street NE

Ward 5 Senior Buildings and Pick Up Locations: