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Councilmember
McDuffie speaks at the opening of the District's outdoor pools at
Langdon Park Pool on May 24.
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Neighbors,
Schools are letting out, pools and spray parks are open, and summer
is getting into full swing. It is an exciting time of year and we
want all residents to have a fun, enriching, and safe summer.
One summer tradition here in the District is the Marion Barry
Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP). This year, the program is
celebrating its 40th anniversary after being founded by former
Mayor Marion S. Barry in 1979. Each year the program provides over
10,000 young people with meaningful work that helps them develop
transferrable skills across an array of areas. Having taken part in
the program when I was young, I recall being exposed to new parts
of the District that I had never explored before, experiencing some
financial independence, and making friendships which endure to this
day. I am very proud to welcome two MBSYEP interns to my office
this summer.
The summer opportunities in the District do not stop there. Ward 5
is home to three outdoor pools and two additional spray parks. DC Public Schools offers summer learning opportunities and the DC
Public Library continues to hold an annual Summer Reading Challenge. For those who may need help with
food security while school is out, there are several sites in Ward
5 where residents can access free meals over the summer.
While I encourage residents to have a fun summer, it
is important to also keep safety in mind. If the temperature
or heat index rises above 95 degrees, the DC government will
activate cooling centers throughout DC. Make sure to check on your
neighbors, particularly seniors, when it gets warm and refer to
heat.dc.gov for more information. Safety also means being vigilant
against crime, particularly as neighbors travel for vacation. When
you are away, remember to set your home alarm and let a neighbor
know your plans. Ask them to keep an eye out and remove any flyers
or packages that may be placed outside of your residence. If you
have not taken advantage of the Private Security Camera Incentive
Program, now is the time to install a
security camera. You can also stay on top of public safety in our
community through the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) yahoo
group listservs or by simply calling your police district
headquarters or watch command (those phone numbers are available on
each police district’s roster on the MPD website).
I hope you have a safe and happy summer and I look forward to
seeing you out and about in the community!
In service,
Kenyan
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In this
issue of the Ward 5 Report:
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On June 4, Councilmember McDuffie
introduced the Go-Go Official Music of the District of Columbia
Designation Act of 2019. In addition to amending the
official D.C. code to enshrine Go-Go music as a part of the fabric
of the District, the legislation also requires the Mayor to design
and implement a program to support, preserve, and archive Go-Go
music and its related documents and recordings.
“To me, and so many other native Washingtonians, Go-Go music has
become so much more than just a musical genre. It is the very
fabric of the city’s cultural and artistic expression,” McDuffie
said, “Designating Go-Go as the official music of the city signals
to those who have been here and to those who continue to move here,
that this music represents the lived experiences of native
Washingtonians. It codifies into law that Go-Go will never be muted
in the District of Columbia.”
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