Ward 5 Report: Show your support for racial equity in DC and march in the DC Emancipation Day Parade

From: Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie
Sent: Thursday, April 4, 2019 12:39 PM
Subject: Ward 5 Report: Show Your Support for Racial Equity in DC and March in the DC Emancipation Day Parade

View this email in your browser Neighbors, We came together to discuss racial equity, social justice, and economic inclusion at the Race and Policy Symposium I hosted in January. We had wide-ranging discussions on equity in education, health, housing, and economic development. Participants frequently mentioned the need to move from conversation to action. The time to act is now. I am inviting you to sign up to testify at an upcoming council hearing. The Racial Equity Achieves Results Act is the bill I introduced earlier this year which would require all policies and laws adopted by the District to be analyzed through the lens of racial equity. It operationalizes racial equity in the District by requiring government agencies to design and implement a racial equity tool and to include racial equity-related performance measures in the development of an agency’s annual performance plan. The hearing for this legislation will take place on Thursday, April 25 at 10:00 AM, and we need your support to emphasize further the importance of bringing this change to our city. Testifying at this hearing is an important opportunity to show support for racial equity in the District and to provide suggestions and feedback on the legislation. You must sign up to testify in advance by emailing or calling the Committee on Government Operations at governmentoperations@dc.gov or (202) 724-6663, by the close of business on Tuesday, April 23. I am proud to be elevating racial equity as a policymaking principle here in DC, and I am excited to take this work from discussion to legislation. Please join me on April 25 to move #RacialEquityDC forward. In Service, Kenyan In this issue of the Ward 5 Report: March with Councilmember McDuffie in DC's Emancipation Day Parade on April 13 Legislative Update Kenyan in the Community Kenyan in the News Arboretum Recreation Center Meeting - April 9 Help the District Name the Ward 5 Short-term Family Housing Building March with Councilmember McDuffie in DC's Emancipation Day Parade on April 13 Legislative Update This week, Councilmember McDuffie introduced the Advisory Commission on Monuments, Markers, and Symbols Establishment Act of 2019 [B23-0234] and the Diverse Washingtonians Commemorative Works Amendment Act of 2019 [B23-0233]. The Advisory Commission on Monuments, Markers, and Symbols Establishment Act of 2019 directs the Mayor to establish an advisory commission to make recommendations regarding controversial monuments, markers, and symbols, such as statues, street names, and school names, that are seen as oppressive and inconsistent with District of Columbia values. After consulting experts and engaging residents, the Commission will submit a report containing its recommendations to the Council and Mayor. This legislation builds on Councilmember McDuffie’s recent call to change the name of his alma mater, Woodrow Wilson High School, and the community-led effort to rename what is now known as Lawrence E. Boone Elementary School (formerly Benjamin Orr Elementary) in Ward 8. The Diverse Native Washingtonians Commemorative Works Amendment Act of 2019 builds upon Councilmember McDuffie’s successful effort during 2017 and 2018 to secure funding for a statue of Charles Hamilton Houston, a native Washingtonian, legal genius, and civil rights lawyer. The latest legislation names four Washingtonians to be honored and provides for additional people to be honored, including those who may have migrated to the District from abroad. Kenyan in the Community Kenyan in the News Councilmember McDuffie was a guest on the Kojo Nnamdi Show on March 22. Listen to his interview. Read about Councilmember McDuffie's legislation to establish a review committee for potentially offensive memorials and places in the Washington Post. Councilmember McDuffie's efforts to highlight the contributions of people born and raised in the District of Columbia was the subject of a column by Theresa Vargas in the Washington Post. WAMU talked to Councilmember McDuffie about his bill to build more statues honoring women and people of color. Arboretum Recreation Center Meeting - April 9 Help the District Name the Ward 5 Short-term Family Housing Building The Department of Human Services (DHS), in partnership with the Department of General Services (DGS), is building a Short-term Family Housing shelter at 17th Street NE and Rhode Island Avenue NE, which will begin serving families experiencing homelessness this summer. At the suggestion of the Ward 5 Community Advisory Team, DHS is inviting Ward 5 residents to help name the building! Through April 30, 2019, DHS will solicit suggested names with a brief rationale for the suggested name. From the list of suggestions, DHS will select their top two to five names, and using a web-based survey, will ask residents to vote for their top choice. The choice with the most votes will be selected as the building name. DHS reserves the right to make the final determination. If you would like to be notified when the top two to five names are selected and voting opens, please be sure to provide your email address. Submit your idea to name the Ward 5 Short-term Family Shelter here.