“Without community, there is no liberation...but community must not mean a shedding of our differences, nor the pathetic pretense that these differences do not exist.”
Updates on the Healthy Workers Collective
The Healthy Workers Collective is a collective organizing to build a solidarity economy. Three worker cooperatives have been engaging long-time DC residents in alternative skills development and alternative work to building community resources and power.
The Douglass Commonwealth Change Makers Cooperative is inviting community members to become involved as worker-owners or supporters of this historic business. The startup team is holding a community makers session decorating candles on April 16th from 1-3pm at the Black Workers and Wellness Center.
Digital Liberations sponsored by Serve Your City/Ward 6 Mutual Aid is a tech program aimed at equipping high school and middle school-aged students, as well as returning citizens, with digital skills for the workforce. This program offers comprehensive training in fundamental digital skills such as Google's G-Suite proficiency, resume creation, and more advanced topics like coding and IT.
Attention Nutrition
Black people in the nation’s capital die sooner than their white counterparts. Why?
How much is due to the stresses of living in America: lack of homes, jobs, and opportunity, trauma, racism and classism, self-hatred, hopelessness, and desperation?
How much is due to lack of healthcare screenings, food deserts, lack of nutritional and health information, and self-care?
How much is it because of the foods that we eat–so-called food in bags (of chips, cookies, etc.), cans and packages grown with pesticides and/or processed with known killers such as high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, and other chemicals rather than real food?
What are other big contributors to black death?
What can we do about it – how can we improve our own health, and help others to improve their own?
On April 26 there will be a meeting to discuss these and other issues, plan programs, and a discussion of tips about ways DC residents can improve their own health and exercise. Ideas on other topics will be also discussed. The meeting will take place at 7pm at the Black Workers and Wellness Center, 2201 MLK Blvd., SE, one block from the Anacostia Metro Station.
Black Workers and Wellness Center (BWWC) Updates
Volunteer Day Event
We are calling on our community members and supporters to come together as we roll up our sleeves, put on our gloves, and give our community spaces a fresh start. Our community work day will be on Saturday, April 13th, from 2 pm to 6 pm. This is an opportunity to not only spruce up our surroundings but also a chance to connect with other community members and build on our collective
We will be carrying out painting touch-ups at the Black Workers and Wellness Center, organizing the building’s storage, and installing shelving to make our spaces even more functional for everyone.
While we work, we'll have lively music to keep us motivated, delicious food to fuel our efforts, and plenty of opportunities for camaraderie as we tackle our tasks together.
We need your help to make this day a success, so mark your calendars and spread the word! Whether you can contribute an hour or the whole afternoon, your participation will make a difference. Let's come together as a community to make our spaces shine brighter than ever before.
The heart of activism beats strong at ONE DC as the Black Worker’s & Wellness Center opens its doors for event bookings. Whether you're planning a workshop, political education, outreach event, health & wellness session or simply a gathering of kindred spirits, we welcome you with open arms and full hearts.
Booking your space is as simple as a few clicks or a friendly call. You can visit the ONE DC's website and fill out the short space usage form, or dial 202-902-3944 and speak with Poncho to secure your spot. We believe in accessibility for all, which is why our rental fee operates on a sliding scale for members and supporters, ensuring that financial barriers don’t hinder the voices that need to be heard. Dates fill up quickly so we ask that you try to book with as much advance notice as you can, a minimum of 21 days before your event. To see the events calendar visit this link.
The BWWC is more than just a rental venue; it's a sanctuary for radical ideas and worker and community power. From grassroots movements to community building, our center stands as a beacon of empowerment for our people.
Join us in reclaiming our power, and forging a future rooted in justice and equity. Together, let's transform our dreams into actions and our actions into a better world. The Black Workers & Wellness Center awaits, ready to amplify your voice and ignite the flames of change.
Homes for All DC Updates
At the end of February HFA DC went to New Orleans! A delegation from HFA DC went to the All Member Assembly put on by Right to the City, the organization organizing the Homes for All Campaign at the national level. At the assembly we participated in workshops that provided training and peer sharing, networked with other organizations as a part of the campaign, and voted on assembly-wide decisions. And ate a lot of good food! The work at home has steadily continued through outreach, legal actions, tenant association meetings, and our monthly circle meeting.
Photo from the All Member Assembly, with around 70 other base building organizations!
Heritage at Shaw/Lincoln Westmoreland Update
For years, ONE DC has been organizing with the tenants of Heritage at Shaw (formerly Lincoln Westmoreland), but this past year has been especially eventful, demanding, and exhilarating. In the spring of 2023, tenant leaders expressed their concerns to us: although their landlord, Midcity, had assured them there were no plans to sell the property or push tenants out, residents were concerned they might be planning something to the contrary. Sure enough, only two months after ONE DC and tenants began revitalizing the tenant association and educating residents on their rights, Midcity sent a letter informing residents of their intent to sell the property. The receipt of this letter on August 2, 2023 started the clock — according to the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), if the tenants wanted any formal say in the future of Heritage at Shaw, we had 45 days to formally register the tenant association with the city, recruit 51% of the 70+ units to join the tenant association, and collect documentation that a majority of the tenant association members supported exercising their TOPA rights. Meanwhile, the buyer Midcity had selected, Urban Investment Partners, was encouraging tenants NOT to exercise their TOPA rights in letters delivered to everyone’s doors. Through hours of door-knocking, phone-banking, tenant association meetings, and outreach events, we succeeded in recruiting over 51% of the units to join the tenant association and agree to exercise their TOPA rights.
But the organizing did not stop there — it was only the beginning. In the months that followed, tenant leaders, with ONE DC’s help, retained a lawyer, sent out a request for development proposals (RFP) to developers across the city, reviewed the two submitted proposals, and met with the prospective developers to learn more about their vision for the property. ONE DC and tenant leaders also met with the city’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), who subsequently issued the first District Opportunity to Purchase (DOPA) RFP in the history of the law. Through DOPA, a third organization, Lincoln Westmoreland Housing, learned about the property and submitted a development proposal.
Check our social media for a special shout-out for the work and tenacity of LW2 tenant leaders!
In the past month, there has been a flurry of activity as we gear up for the vote in which tenants will decide to whom they will assign their TOPA rights. That vote will determine the future of Heritage at Shaw — and we sincerely hope tenants share our vision of defending deep affordability in a rapidly changing city. Once a developer is selected, there will be many more months and years of working closely with the new landlord to incorporate tenants’ vision for the property.
Black Land Stewardship and Wellness
Tying land issues to health and wellness
Nia Nyamweya, farmer
ONE DC is Hiring for four new positions!!
ONE DC is seeking four dynamic individuals with a passion for Movement work and a proven track record to join the ONE DC staff.
Interested? Send a resume and cover letter to [email protected] or visit our website for more information.
Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center Job Opportunities
Currently under construction, Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health will integrate clinical care with existing providers, The George Washington University Hospital and Cedar Hill Urgent Care GW Health in Ward 8. Recently, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Universal Health Services announced a plan to bring a new Freestanding Emergency Department (FED) to Ward 7 on the Fletcher-Johnson Campus in 2027.
There are construction career opportunities available for District residents now. Scan the barcode below for "Construction Pathways with MCN Build."
For hospital careers, District residents can visit The George Washington University Hospital Content (uhsinc.com) for available positions. Positions are not yet available for Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health, but visit https://cedarhillregional.com/ for updates. The new hospital will open to see patients in early 2025.
Upcoming Meetings & Events
The ONE DC Resource Development Committee is responsible for grant writing and fundraising. Join a dynamic team to help raise funds for our organizing work! RSVP Here
