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FEBRUARY 2013 EAST of the RIVER MAGAZINE

EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE | february 2013 | CAPITALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 08.............Go See Do

10.............East of the River Calendar 16.............The Bulletin Board 20.............District Beat • by Martin Austermuhle 22.............The Numbers • by Ed Lazere 24............. ARCH Development Corporation Prepares for 2013 • by Charnice A. Milton 26.............E on DC • by E. Ethelbert Miller 27............. DCPS to Close Six Schools in Wards 7 and 8 • by Ellen Boomer 28............. School Closures: The Specifics • by Charnice A. Milton 30............. Does the Nation’s Only Known Shoe Repair Program in a Public High School End with Spingarn’s Closure? • by Stephen Lilienthal 32............. Grubb’s Southeast Pharmacy to Hold Grand Opening Celebration • by Charnice A. Milton

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE

34.............Anacostia Yogi Strikes the Warrior Pose • by Jazelle Hunt 36.............Dispatches from the Village of Anacostia • by Phil Hutinet 38.............“It’s Our River” • by Charnice A. Milton

HOMES & GARDENS

39.............Changing Hands • compiled by Don Denton

KIDS & FAMILY

40.............Kids and Family Notebook • by Kathleen Donner 44.............High School and “More” • by Stephen Lilienthal 48............. Friendship Collegiate Academy Students Win Posse Foundation Scholarships • by Jeremy Cullimore

52.............The Classified 54.............The Nose • by Anonymous

ON THE COVER:

Sariane Leigh, aka Anacostia Yogi. Story on page 34. Photo: Wanakhavi Wakhisi

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Hill Rag • Mid City DC • East Of The River • Fagon Community Guides Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 capitalcommunitynews.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissaashabranner@hillrag.com

Look for Next Issue of East of the River on March 9

Editorial Staff Managing Editor: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CFO & Associate Editor: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com School Notes Editor: Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Kids & Family Notebook Editor: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com

BEAUTY, Health& Fitness Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Ronda Bresnick Hauss, LCSW • www.quietwaterscenter.com quiet_waters_center@yahoo.com Mariessa Terrell • mterrell@sbclawgroup.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com

Arts, Dining & Entertainment Art: Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Dining: Emily Clark • clapol47@gmail.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Hit the City: Joylyn Hopkins • joylyn@joylynhopkins.com Literature: Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Movies: Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Music: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • samonroe2004@yahoo.com Retail Therapy: Scott Fazzini • scott.fazzini@gmail.com Theater: Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com Travel: Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com The Wine Guys: Jon Genderson • jon@cellar.com

KIDS & FAMILY Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com

Calendar & Bulletin Board Calendar Editor: Kathleen Donner • calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

COMMENTARY Ethelbert Miller • emiller698@aol.com The Nose • thenose@hillrag.com

Society & Events Mickey Thompson • socialsightings@aol.com Homes & Gardens Rindy O’Brien • rindyob@mac.com Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Judith Capen • judith.capen@architravepc.com HomeStyle: Mark Johnson • mark@hillrag.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com

General Assignment Martin Austermuhle • martin.austermuhle@gmail.com Maggy Baccinelli • mbaccinelli@gmail.com Dana Bell • dana@hillrag.com Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ralph Brabham • ralphbrabham@yahoo.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Gwyn Jones • gwynjones@aol.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Celeste McCall • celeste@hillrag.com Charnice Milton • charnicem@hotmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Alice Ollstein • alice.ollstein@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Linda Samuel • indabsamuel@yahoo.com Heather Schoell • schoell@verizon.net Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Michael G. Stevens • michael@capitolriverfront.org Peter J. Waldron • peter@hillrag.com Roberta Weiner • rweiner_us@yahoo.com Jazzy Wright • wright.jazzy@gmail.com Jennifer Zatkowski • jenn@hillrag.com

Production/Graphic/web Design Art Director: Jason Yen • jay@hillrag.com Graphic Designer: Kyungmin Lee • lee@hillrag.com Web Master: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com Advertising & Sales Account Executive: Kira Means, 202.543.8300 X16 • kira@hillrag.com Account Executive: Jennifer Zatkowski, 202.543.8300 X20 • Jenn@hillrag.com Classified Advertising: Maria Carolina Lopez, 202.543.8300 X12 • carolina@hillrag.com Distribution Distribution Manager: Andrew Lightman Distributors: Southwest Distribution Distribution Information: distribution@hillrag.com Deadlines & CONTACTS Advertising: sales@hillrag.com Display Ads: 15th of each month Classified Ads: 10th of each month Editorial: 15th of each month; submissions@hillrag.com Bulletin Board & Calendar: 15th of each month; calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to lastword@hillrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com.

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GO.SEE.DO. Frederick Douglass Birthday Celebration

Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland, around 1818. The exact year and date of Douglass’ birth are unknown, though later in life he chose to celebrate it on February 14. On February 16 (the nearest Saturday), come celebrate Frederick Douglass’s 195th birthday and explore Douglass’s Civil War. The Frederick Douglass House in Southeast DC will have music from the period, reenactors demonstrating a soldier’s life and weapons, activities for kids, and lectures on African American soldiers in the Civil War. At the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, 1411 W St. SE. Opening ceremony begins at 10 a.m. and activities run all day until 3:30 p.m.. Free and open to the public, no tickets required. Swing by and wish Mr. Douglass a happy birthday. 202-426-5961. nps.gov/FRDO

frederick douglass impersorator at last year’s celebration. Photo: Courtesy of the national Park Service

Chinese New Year Parade in DC

Chinese new Year’s lion dancing. Photo: the ad agency

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On Sunday, February 10, 2013, the Chinese community of the greater Washington metropolitan area will be celebrating the “Chinese Lunar New Year 4711” in Washington, DC Chinatown. The lunar year 4711 will mark the year of the snake. Occupying the 6th position in the Chinese Zodiac, the snake symbolizes such character traits as intelligence, gracefulness and materialism. When it comes to decision-making, snakes are extremely analytical and precise. Contemplative and private, the Snake is not outwardly emotional. He can appear cunning and reticent and works very modestly in the business environment. The Snake will plot and scheme to make certain things turn out exactly as they want them to. The parade starts at 2 p.m., Mayor Vincent Gray will speak at 3 p.m., followed by a special fire cracker presentation at 4 p.m. The Parade starts at 6th & I sts. NW and ends at 6th & H sts. NW. chineseparadedc.com

Green Hat Distillery Tours and Tastings

Green Hat Gin is a truly unique artisanal spirit. Each batch of Green Hat Gin is crafted in this small DC distillery. The result is a super-premium gin that excels both in the finest cocktails and with a small cube in the gin-lover’s neat glass. They mill the highest quality soft winter wheat fresh for each batch and mash it in a temperature-controlled process to release the sugars needed for fermentation. The mash is then fermented to create the “beer” that feeds our distillation process. After being concentrated and clarified in our traditional copper pot still, two more distillations transform the crystal spirit into a refined and gently aromatic gin. In the final distillation, they suspend their hand-selected botanicals inside the still to allow passing spirit vapors to gently extract the right flavor and scent notes. Finished with chill filtering and bottled by hand at the distillery, Green Hat Gin is a Washington original. Cheers! On Saturdays, stop by anytime between 1-4 p.m. for a tour and tasting. New Columbia Distillers LLC, 1832 Fenwick St. NE. 202-733-1710. greenhatgin.com

The New Columbia Distillery

“Lunch Bites” at Anderson House

The Society of the Cincinnati is the nation’s oldest patriotic organization, founded in 1783 by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution. Its mission is to promote knowledge and appreciation of the achievement of American independence and to foster fellowship among its members. Now a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the principles and ideals of its founders, the modern Society maintains its headquarters, library, and museum at Anderson House in Washington, DC. Once a month on a Friday at 12:30 p.m., you are invited to an in-depth talk by an Society staff member about an artifact, painting, weapon or other item from the Society’s collection. On February 15, learn about “Unique 18th-Century Bookbindings.” On March 15, learn about “Conserving a Portrait of a Revolutionary War Veteran.” The talks are free and there is time for questions and answers. Anderson House, 2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW. 202-7852040. societyofthecincinnati.org

A Society of the Cincinnati staff member discusses the treasured portrait of Isabel Anderson in the Anderson House Dining Room during a Lunch Bite object talk. Photo: Courtesy of The Society of the Cincinnati

Olney Theatre Center Opens Its 75th Anniversary Season with Spring Awakening

Spring Awakening, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, will open Olney Theatre Center 75th Anniversary Season playing on the Mainstage from February 7 through March 10. Spring Awakening celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, poignancy and passion you will never forget. In the tradition of Hair and Rent, Spring Awakening is a musical that has captured the heart and soul of a new generation. Based on the Expressionist play that caused a scandal in 19th-century Germany, Spring Awakening features a captivating score by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sate. Spring Awakening is beyond sex and controversial issues. It’s about conversation, one that Olney Theatre Center invites the Washington D.C. metro area to be a part of. Tickets are $32-$65. Olney Theatre Center, celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2013, is an award-winning, nonprofit, Equity theatre. Located just north of DC in Montgomery County, Olney Theatre Center offers a diverse array of professional productions year-round. For more information, visit olneytheatre.org. Spring Awakening Director Steve Cosson. Photo: Courtesy of Olney Theatre Center EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM H 9

Newseum Opens Exhibit Featuring MLK Birmingham, Ala., Jail Cell Door.

To celebrate the beginning of Black History Month, the Newseum opened “Jailed in Birmingham,” a new exhibit featuring a casting of the original jail cell door behind which the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was confined after his April 1963 arrest for leading nonviolent protests in Birmingham, Ala. It was in this cell that the civil rights leader penned his historic letter defending civil disobedience. The “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” written in response to a statement by a group of eight white Alabama clergymen, includes the now-famous quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” The door on display is a bronze casting made from the original door to King’s cell in the Birmingham city jail. The exhibit also features one of the first publications of the letter, a 1963 pamphlet published by the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker group. The exhibit is on display in the Newseum’s News Corporation News History Gallery. Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 888-639-7386. newseum.org

l door The door on display is a bronze casting made from the origina features to King’s cell in the Birmingham city jail. The exhibit also Jail,” a one of the ﬁrst publications of the “Letter From Birmingham Commit1963 pamphlet published by the American Friends Service um’s News Newse the in display on is exhibit The tee, a Quaker group. um Corporation News History Gallery. Photo: Courtesy of Newse

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH Mount Vernon Celebrates Black History Month. Through Feb 28. In observance of Black History Month, Mount Vernon highlights the lives and contributions of the slaves who built and operated the plantation home of George and Martha Washington. Throughout the month, a daily Slave Life at Mount Vernon tour explores the lives and contributions of the slaves who lived at Mount Vernon. A wreath laying and presentation occurs daily at the slave memorial site throughout the month of February. Black History Month activities are included in regular Estate admission: adults, $17; children ages 6-11, $8; and children under 5 are admitted free. mountvernon.org Bound for Freedom’s Light-African Americans and the Civil War. Through Mar 2, 2014. This installation will focus on the roles that individual African Americans played during the course of this hard-fought conflict. National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F sts. NW. 202-633-8300. npg.si.edu A Matter of Worth. Feb 9, 10:30-11:30 AM. Come and bear witness and listen to a dramatic reading of “A Matter of Worth” by Marcia E. Cole. The year is 1855 and every enslaved man, woman, and child is subject to being sold. On this day, someone else makes the call, but 73-year-old Hannah and others have plenty to say as they provide special insight and wisdom. For reservations, call 202633-4844. Anacostia Com mun ity Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu Frederick Douglass in Washington, DC: A Panel. Feb 12, 6:30-8:30 PM. Join them for an enlightening panel discussion on the dynamic role that Frederick Douglass played in the history of Washington, DC during the era of Post-Emancipation. The panelists are Ka’mal McClarin, the curator of the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site; Dr. Clifford L. Muse Jr., Howard University Archivist and Associate Director of the Moorland-Spingarn

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CALENDAR

Research Center; and John Muller, journalist and author of Frederick Douglass in Washington, D.C.: The Lion of Anacostia. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Black Studies Center, Room 316, 901 G St. NW. 202-727-0321. dclibrary.org/mlk Against the Odds: The Artists of the Harlem Renaissance. Feb 24, 2:00-3:30 PM. Against the Odds: The Artists of the Harlem Renaissance remembers the glory days of the Harlem Renaissance and the artists who persevered and survived despite the struggles working against them. This one-hour presentation traces the history of this pivotal American movement. A discussion will follow the film. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu ‘Things Fall Apart’ Book Discussion at Southeast Library. Feb 26, 7:00 PM. In honor of Black History Month, the monthly book club will read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Southeast Library, 403 7th St. SE. 202-6983377. dclibrary.org/southeast Changing America-The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863 and the March on Washington, 1963. Through Sept 15. On August 28, 1963, at the March on Washington, Martin Luther King Jr. began his speech by declaring, “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity ... In a sense we have come to our nation’s capital to cash a check.” Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu Separate and Unequaled: Black Baseball in the District of Columbia. On view indefinitely. From Reconstruction to the second half of the 20th century, baseball, the great American pastime, was played in Washington, DC, on segregated fields. “Separate and Unequaled” looks at the phenomenal popularity and community draw of this sport when played by African Americans. Featured are such personalities as Josh Gibson and “Buck” Leonard, star players of the Negro Leagues most celebrated team, the Washington Homestead Grays. The show also highlights community teams that gave rise to the various amateur, collegiate and semi-pro black baseball teams and leagues. For special viewing hours and tours, call 202-633-4844. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu

Last year’s open house skaters enjoying family time together. Photo: Katie Sieck

Fort Dupont Ice Arena President’s Day Open House. Feb 18, 10:00 AM-noon. Free skating, free skate rental and free lessons. All ages. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. NE. 202-584-5007. fdia.org

Martin Luther King. Jr. National Memorial. Visit anytime. The memorial is located at the intersection of Independence Ave and W. Basin Dr. SW. nps.gov/mlkm

spiritual, and economic well-being of peoples across the African Diaspora. For more information, visit africanancestry.com.

VALENTINE’S

Tour the Frederick Douglass House. Tours are at 9:00 AM, 12:15 PM, 1:15 PM, 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM. Ranger led tours are the only way to see the inside of the Frederick Douglass house. Tours are ticketed, and there are a limited number of tickets available for each tour. Tour tickets are available by reservation or on a first-come, first-served walk-in basis. Visitors are strongly encouraged to make a reservation to guarantee their place on the tour. Tours last approximately 30 minutes. 1411 W St. SE. 202-426-5960. nps.gov/frdo

Trace Your DNA with AfricanAncestry.com. Founded in 2003 by Dr. Rick Kittles and Gina Paige, this Washington, DC based company has helped more than 100,000 people connect with their original roots in Africa. African Ancestry is the world leader in tracing maternal and paternal lineages of African descent. With the industry’s largest and most comprehensive database of more than 32,000 indigenous African DNA samples, African Ancestry determines specific countries of origin-and in most cases-ethnic groups with the highest level of accuracy. African Ancestry is committed to providing a unique service to the black community, working daily to improve the cultural, emotional, physical,

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Woo at the Zoo. Feb 9, 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30 PM. Looking for the wildest way to celebrate Valentine’s Day without breaking the bank? Attend the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s fourth annual Woo at the Zoo on Saturday for an opportunity to learn about animal mating, dating and reproductive habits in an honest and humorous forum. Attendees and their “deer” ones will enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and the opportunity to decorate sweets for your sweetheart. A cash bar will also be available featuring specialty drinks served in the exclusive Woo at the Zoo commemorative glass. All

the fun takes place in the Zoo’s Visitor Center. $30. For 21 years and older. nationalzoo.si.edu Cupid’s Undie Run. Feb 9, (doors open at noon, run at 2:30 PM). Cupid’s Undie Run is a 1.5 mile underwear-run around the Capitol on Valentine’s weekend to benefit the Children’s Tumor Foundation. If you’re not running, you’ll want to watch. Pour House, 319 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-546-0779. cupidsundierun.com Valentine’s Day Card Workshop. Feb 9, noon4:00 PM. They’ll have pretty papers and neat valentine-themed stamps to decorate your card. Nothing delivers love better than giving a handmade card to your valentine. Visit the museum’s stamp store and send the cards to your loved ones with a special Postal Museum postmark. Free. Free Program. No reservation required. National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. 202-633-5555. postalmuseum.si.edu

A Drag Valentine-Salute to the Diva. Feb 11, 8:00 PM. $25. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com

Nema Williams and Ed Blaze. Adults ages 18+ only please. THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org

History of Chocolate. Feb 12, 7:00 PM. Food historian Joyce White traces the history of chocolate from its ancient beginnings in Meso-America to the modern day. This interactive presentation will focus on how chocolate has changed through time in terms of its cultural value and how mechanization has altered its production process. This presentation will be followed by a tasting of hot chocolate the Aztec way, an 18th century-style chocolate tart, a 19th centurystyle chocolate pudding, the 20th century chocolate bar, and its 21st century incarnation: with sea salt. $12. Dumbarton House, 2715 Q St. NW. 202-337-2288. dumbartonhouse.org

She’s Not In Your History Book: An Afternoon of Storytelling with Joy Jones. Mar 3, 2:00-3:30 PM. A lecture on accomplished African and African American women from antiquity to contemporary times. This lecture focuses on historically noteworthy women who are seldom acknowledged for their achievements. Performance poetry is also a key feature of this presentation. Among the women featured are: Queen Hatshepsut, Egyptian pharaoh; Dorothy Dandridge, actress; and Ellen Craft, who along with her husband William Craft, staged a stunning escape out of slavery. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202633-4820. anacostia.si.edu

SPECIAL EVENTS Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival. Feb 22-Mar 10. The unique all-arts INTERSECTIONS festival returns for its fourth season bringing together more than 100 performing groups over twelve days. The festival presents intersections of music, theatre, dance, film and spoken word that offer new ways to see ourselves and to celebrate our community and our world. All five Atlas performance spaces will be alive with world premieres and innovative collaborations among artists of all ages, races, cultures and art forms. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202399-7993. atlasarts.org National Cherry Blossom Festival. Mar 20Apr 14. Kite Festival, Mar 30; waterfront fireworks, Apr 6; parade and Japanese street festival, Apr 13. .nationalcherryblossomfestival.org Volunteer at the Cherry Blossom Festival. By volunteering for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, its events largely free and open to the public, you support an important event in and for our community. You’ll also have the opportunity to make new friends and have fun. Join us in welcoming the many visitors and residents to the Festival! Go to ww.nationalcherryblossomfestiv al.org/get-involved.

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD “Bound & Gagged” the Stageplay. Feb 17, 3:00-5:30 PM. Saved by Grace Productions will present Bound & Gagged-a stageplay addressing domestic violence. Show not suitable for children under the age of 16. No cameras allowed. Please arrive early; all late seating will occur after intermission. $39.50. THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org Metro Comedy Live in DC. Feb 23, 10:00 PM. Live stand-up comedy show featuring

Creative Workshop with Artist Tamara Thomas. Mar 7, 10:30 AM-12:30 PM. Participate in this exciting workshop as you design and create your own takeaway. Artist Tamara Thomas will assist you in developing your very own special creation. All materials will be provided. Reservations are required for this traveling workshop. Call 202-633-4844. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu Harmonicly Yours: Avon Dews @THEARC Theater. Mar 9, 7:30 PM and 10:00 PM. One listen and you’ll know why it is said that Avon Dews has put the cool in harmonica playing! During this performance, Avon Dews will skillfully combine the elements of Jazz, Funk, Classic and Contemporary R&B into a must see event. Audiences have come to appreciate and “feel” the beautiful sounds that this skilled harmonica player can bring out of such a small instrument. $20. THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org “The Points That Bring Us from Here to There” at Honfleur Gallery. Through Feb 22. In diverse solo works and a collaborative project, Michael Dax Iacovone and Kathryn Zazenski map spaces and experiences. Iacovone’s The Mississippi River Project: Record of a 3600 Mile Drawing, chronicles his journey driving across the 123 bridges that span the Mississippi River. In a selection from her ongoing Memory Maps series, Zazenski presents maps from time spent in Haukijärvi, Finland, Washingon, DC, and Beijing, China. From Here to There: Ezra Pound brings the two artists’ diverging interests together in a project that examines the history of Anacostia. 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-365-8392. honfleurgallery.com “The Soul of the City”at Vivid Solutions. Through Feb 22. For its third-annual photo contest, the InstantDC photo collective put out an open call for images in response to the following quote from Oswald Spengler: “It goes without saying that what distinguishes a town from a village is not size, but the presence of a soul.” The Soul of The

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CALENDAR City exhibition at The Gallery at Vivid Solutions presents a selection of responses to the prompt by nine members of InstantDC: Michael Andrade, Jorge Bañales, James Campbell, Jim Darling, Keith Lane, Ryan Maxwell, Emily Reid, and Greg Schmigel. The exhibition will also include a digital slideshow of select contest submissions. 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE (upstairs). 202-365-8392. vividsolutionsdc. com/gallery Ranger tours of the Civil War Defenses of Washington. Every Saturday through Sept 7, 10:00 AM-noon. Join a Ranger for tours of the Civil War Defenses of Washington. They will lead visitors to some of the remaining Civil War forts in the Nation’s Capital. Visitors are asked to contact Ranger Kenya Finely at 202-4267723 for more information on the specific program themes. Fort Dupont Park. nps.gov/fodu Reclaiming the Edge: Urban Waterways and Civic Engagement. Through Sept 15. Based on research by the Anacostia Community Museum on the history, public use, and attitudes toward the Anacostia River and its watershed and on review of urban waterway developments in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Louisville, London, and Shanghai, Reclaiming the Edge explores various issues regarding human interaction with natural resources in an urban setting. It looks at densely populated watersheds and at rivers as barriers to racial and ethnic integration. The exhibition also examines civic attempts to recover, clean up, re-imagine, or engineer urban rivers for community access and use. 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Tour Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens. Open daily, 7:00 AM-4:00 PM. Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens is about 700 acres and is part of Anacostia Park. The park includes the gardens, Kenilworth Marsh, ball fields and recreational facilities. It is the only National Park Service site devoted to the propagation and display of aquatic plants. Stop by the visitors center and ask if a ranger is free to show you around. You can also borrow a guidebook and binoculars if you leave a driver’s license. Free.1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. 202-426-6905. www.nps.gov/kepa A Self-Reliant People: Greater Deanwood Heritage Trail. Discover, or see with new eyes, this traditionally African American enclave in Far Northeast when you follow “A Self-Reliant People: Greater Deanwood Heritage Trail.” Fifteen poster-sized street signs combine storytelling with historic photographs and maps to transport you back to the days before Deanwood was Deanwood. To pick up the trail go to Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. and Division Ave. NE. Walk one block south to Foote Street, at the edge of Marvin Gaye Park. The 90-minute, self-guided tour will bring you along Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, up 49th St. and along Sheriff Rd. back to Minnesota Ave. and the Metro station. Walk the trail at your own pace and take time to enjoy this small town in the city. Don’t forget to pick up a free trail guide from businesses along the way. 202-6617581. culturaltourismdc.org

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What’s Blooming at the US Arboretum in February? Witch-hazels, conifer foliage and cones, hollies in fruit, Japanese apricot, wintersweet, sweet-box, winter jasmine. Free. There are two entrances: one at 3501 New York Ave. NE, and 24th and R sts. NE, off of Bladensburg Rd. 202-245-4521. usna.usda.gov

SPORTS, DANCE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Washington Capitals Ice Hockey. Feb 9, 21, 23 and 25. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. 202628-3200. capitals.nhl.com Washington Wizards Basketball. Feb 19, 22, 23 and 27. Mar 1 and 3. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. 202-397-SEAT. nba.com/wizards Bright Beginnings 5K. Mar 2, 8:00 AM. Bright Beginnings supports homeless children and families. At a larger location this year, the Bright Beginnings 5K will start and finish at West Potomac Park. Participants will enjoy a scenic view of the Tidal Basin, Hains Point, and the Potomac River. brightbeginningsinc.org/5k EmpoweRun 5K. Mar 2, 7:30 AM. Race for a good cause! Vort Port International is a 501(c)3 non-profit that empowers impoverished communities through training, education, and appropriate technologies. Rock Creek Park. vortport.org/empowerun Ice Skating at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Through mid-Mar (weather permitting). Monday-Thursday, 10:00 AM-9:00 PM; Friday-Saturday, 10:00 AM-11:00 PM; Sunday, 11:00 AM-9:00 PM. $7 for adults, $6 for children 12 and under, students with ID and seniors 50 and over. Skate rental is $3. Seventh St. and Constitution Ave. NW. 202-2893361. nga.gov/ginfo/skating DJ’s in the Garden-Spin, Cut and Groove. Thursdays through Feb 28, 6:00-9:00 PM. Keep warm on the ice while a DJ spins popular music from the 1960s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, including a wide range of musical styles such as Hip-Hop, R&B, Disco, Pop, Rock and Roll, and Soul. Skaters may make requests to guest DJs and twirl across the ice to their favorite tunes. National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Seventh St. and Constitution Ave. NW. 202-289-3361. nga.gov/ginfo/skating Canal Park Ice Rink. Open Monday-Friday, noon-9:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM-10:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM-7:00 PM. Adult fee is $8; children, seniors (55+) and military fees are $7. Skate rental i $3. On Tuesdays, two can skate for the price of one from 4:00-6:00 PM. The park is at Second and M sts. SE, one block from the Navy Yard Metro (New Jersey Avenue exit). canalparkdc.org. Public Skating at Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Fridays, noon-1:50 PM; Saturdays, 11:15 AM12:15 PM. Dress for warmth and safety. A helmet or knit hat is strongly recommended | February 2013

(loaner helmetsare available). $5. $4 for kids and seniors. $3 for skate rental. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. NE. 202-584-5007. fdia.org Adult Dance Classes. Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30 PM, Pilates; Wednesdays, 7:00-8:15 PM, Jazz; Saturdays, 9:00-10:00 AM, Zumba. The Washington Ballet @ THEARC offers three adult classes this year. Classes are $12 each or you may purchase a $100 class card for 12 classes. Classes are only $5 for Ward 8 residents. The class card for Ward 8 residents is $50. (Valid ID required.) THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org Free Exercise Classes at Kenilworth Elementary School. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 6:00-7:00 PM. Bring your own mat, water and towel. 1300 44th St. NE. For more information, email peppypromotions@gmail. com or call 301-395-1013 Free Yoga Classes at Anacostia Neighborhood Library. Every Thursday, 7:00-8:00 PM. Yoga is a great way to relax, unwind and get grounded. Even if you’ve never done yoga before--this class is for you. Open to people of all abilities, ages and body types. All you need to bring is yourself, comfortable clothing and an open mind. Judgment free zone: having a great time is encouraged! Register in person at Anacostia Neighborhood Library or call 202-715-7707. 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. dclibrary.org/anacostia Southeast Tennis and Learning Center. Open daily; Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM-9:00 PM; Sunday, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. Four indoor courts. Six outdoor courts. Summer hourly fees at $6 to $10 for adults. Kids 17 and under play for free. 701 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202645-6242. dpr.dc.gov Deanwood (indoor) Pool. Mon-Fri 6:30 AM8:00 PM; Sat-Sun, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Free for DC residents. 1350 49th St. NE. 202-6713078. dpr.dc.gov Ferebee Hope (indoor) Pool. Open weekdays, 10:00-6:00 PM. Closed weekends. Free for DC residents. 3999 Eighth St. SE. 202-6453916. dpr.dc.gov

9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. On weekends the market area comes alive with farmers bringing in fresh produce, craft and flower vendors, artists, a flea market and street musicians. 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarket-dc.com Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays year round (rain or shine), 9:00 AM-1:00 PM. The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times of London named the market one of the top farmers’ markets in the country. During the peak season, there are more than 30 farmers offering fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, cheeses, fruit pies, breads, fresh pasta, cut flowers, potted plants, soaps and herbal products. 20th St. and Mass. Ave NW, 1500 block of 20th St. NW (between Mass. Ave. and Q St. in the adjacent parking lot of PNC Bank). 202-362-8889. freshfarmmarket.org Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays year around (except in the case of very inclement weather), 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM. The crowd is as diverse as the items for sale! Antiques, collectibles, art, furniture, rugs, pottery, china, jewelry, silver, stained glass, books and photographs are an example of the available items. 1819 35th St. NW. 202-775-3532. or georgetownfleamarket.com

CIVIC LIFE Big Chair Breakfast Bunch. Saturday, Feb 9, 10:00 AM-noon. Big Chair Coffee n’ Grill (upstairs). All are welcome to attend and discuss what’s happening East of the River. 2122 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. 202-525-4287. Congresswoman Norton’s SE District Office. Open weekdays, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. 2041 MLK Ave. SE, #238. 202-678-8900. norton. house.gov Councilmember Alexander’s Constituent Services Office. Open weekdays, 10:00 AM6:00 PM. 2524 Penn. Ave. SE. 202-581-1560.

MARKETS

Councilmember Barry’s Constituent Services Office. Open weekdays, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. 2100 MLK Ave, SE, #307. 202-698-2185.

Fresh Tuesdays at Eastern Market. Every Tuesday, 3:00-7:00 PM. Tuesday afternoon farmers’ line of fresh produce. Eastern Market, 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarket-dc.com

Anacostia Coordinating Council Meeting. Last Tuesday, noon-2:00 PM. Anacostia Museum, 1901 Fort St. SE. For further details, contact Philip Pannell, 202-889-4900.

Union Market. Wednesday-Friday, 11:00 AM8:00 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 8:00 AM-8:00 PM. The newly-opened Union Market is an artisanal, curated, year-round food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7:00 AM-7:00 PM; Saturdays, 7:00 AM-5:00 PM; Sundays,

Capitol View Civic Association Meeting. Third Monday, 6:30 PM. Hughes Memorial United Methodist, 25 53rd St. NE. capitolviewcivicassoc.org Historical Anacostia Block Association. Second Thursday, 7:00-9:00 PM. UPO-Anacostia Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. For further details, contact Charles Wilson, 202834-0600.

Anacostia High School School Improvement Team Meeting. Fourth Tuesday. 6:00 PM. Anacostia High School, 16th and R sts. SE. Deanwood Citizens Association General Body Meeting. Fourth Monday, except Aug. and Dec., 6:30 PM. 1350 49th St. NE. Deanwood Citizens Association General Body Meeting. Fourth Monday, except Aug. and Dec., 6:30 PM. 1350 49th St. NE. Eastland Gardens Civic Association Meeting. Third Tuesday. 6:30-8:30 PM. Kenilworth Elementary School (auditorium), 1300 44th St. NE. Greg Rhett jrhett3009@aol.com or 202-388-1532. Fairlawn Citizens Association. Third Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Ora L. Glover Community Room at the Anacostia Public Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. ANC 7A. Second Tuesday, 7:30 PM. Benning-Stoddard Rec. Center, 100 Stoddard Pl. SE. 202-727-1000. 7A@ anc.dc.gov. anc7a.org ANC 7B. Third Thursday, 7:00 PM. Ryland Epworth United Methodist Church, 3200 S St. SE (Branch Ave and S St. SE). 202-584-3400. anc7b@pressroom.com. anc7b.us ANC 7C. Second Thursday, 7:00 PM. Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5109 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE. 202-398-5100. anc7c@verizon.net ANC 7D. Second Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Sixth District Police Station, 100 42nd St. NE. 202-398-5258. 7D06@anc. dc.gov ANC 7E. Second Tuesday, 7:00-8:30 PM. Jones Memorial Church, 4625 G St. SE. 202-582-6360. 7E@anc.dc.gov ANC 8A. First Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Anacostia UPO Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. 202-889-6600. anc8adc. org ANC 8B. Third Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Seventh District Police Station Community Center, Alabama and McGee Sts. SE. 202-610-1818. anc8b.org ANC 8C. First Wednesday (June meeting is on the nineth because of the holiday), 6:30 PM. 2907 MLK Jr Ave. SE. 202-388-2244. ANC 8D. Fourth Thursday, 7:00 PM. Specialty Hospital of Washington, 4601 MLK Jr. Ave. SW. 202 561-0774 ANC 8E. Third Tuesday, 7:00 PM. SE Tennis and Learning Center, 701 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-561-6616. 8e02@ anc.dc.gov u EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM H 15

BULLETIN BOARD Gwendolyn Briley-Strand as Harriet Tubman. Photo: Courtesy of THEARC

Two Free Showings of “Harriet Tubman: The Chosen One” at THEARC

THEARC Theater presents two free performances of Harriet Tubman: The Chosen One, on Feb 14, at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. in honor of Black History month. The 45-minute show will be performed by one woman, Gwendolyn BrileyStrand, who will transform into over a dozen characters while taking the audience on one of the nineteen journeys Harriet Tubman traveled through The Underground Railroad. Ms. Strand is an expert on the life of Harriet Tubman and has performed this play since 1993 in many schools, universities and organizations throughout the United States. A brief question and answer session with Ms. Strand will immediately follow each performance. Attendees may also view the photographic exhibit, Harriet Tubman: Portals Through Time, an intriguing view of Harriet Tubman’s life as “Moses,” rescuer of slaves; Civil War spy and suffragette. Other notable abolitionists and suffragettes are also displayed. Each year, THEARC brings programs like this to the community to educate and inspire children and adults living East of the River. Attendance requires RSVP. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org

Light Festival and Night Art Exhibition at St. Elizabeth’s

Citelum, a global leader in urban electrical and lighting systems is beginning its first steps in preparing its Night Art Exhibition and a Light Festival in Ward 8 using St. Elizabeth Pavilion as the site for the events. The tentative date will be between April 1 and May 31, 2013. Citelum wants to make the St. Elizabeth campus into one of the main symbols of DC’s creativity. In order to create a vibrant environment and to promote the districts talent and art, Citelum will exhibit and illuminate the work of local, national and international artists in a portion of the St. Elizabeth campus. Citelum will send a call out to artists, and organizations that can deliver or sponsor their crafts to the event. 16 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

Citelum is looking to partner with groups to communicate and facilitate the samples of art and layout the grids to how display the pieces with the best lighting. They also are offering and welcoming other lighting organizations, lighting groups and lighting manufacturers to partner with them on the vast endeavor. For more information, email pmilbourne@citelum.com or call 202507-5808. citelum.com

Second Annual East of the River Distinguished Artist Award

ARCH Development Corporation (ADC) announces the second annual East of the River Distinguished Artist Award; an award with a $5,000 prize presented by Honfleur Gallery with funding from the Gautier family. This annual award | FEbRuARy 2013

recognizes an artist living east of the Anacostia River for creative excellence as well as for having had a significant impact on the cultural landscape of Washington, DC. The main purpose of this award is to celebrate the achievements and contributions of artists who, individually and collectively, have enriched the arts in Washington, DC. The first annual EotRDAA was awarded to artist BK ADAMS*I AM ART last summer. To be eligible, applicants must be artists who currently live in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River and whose careers have made a substantial impact on DC arts. Individuals working in all disciplines-including dance, film, literature, music, theater, photography and visual arts--will be considered. Artists will be assessed by a panel of judges who will be announced after the deadline of submissions. The panel will then recommend a selection of

candidates to ADC’s board of directors, who in turn will choose the winning artist. The award ceremony will take place July 25, 2013. Applications are due by June 7, 2013. The artist must be present to accept this award. Interested parties can find complete information about the contest and learn how to apply online at archdevelopment.org and honfleurgallery.com or in person at ADC project locations.

Verbal Gymnastics Workshop at the Anacostia Community Museum

Poet and playwright John Johnson will host an interactive workshop that incorporates poetry and storytelling. This workshop allows individuals the opportunity to use observation of their community and personal experience to create a unique and original piece that will unlock the poet and wordsmith in everyone. John Johnson will also

share some of his poetry and tips that will highlight the creative spirit of the spoken word. This program is also geared to promote awareness and civic engagement in the communities surrounding the Anacostia River. Feb 21, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu

Coast Guard Moves East of the River

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) spoke at the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters at 2100 2nd St. SW, on Jan 30, for the agency’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day program, part of her effort and that of the Coast Guard to transition the Coast Guard to its new home in Ward 8 later this year. She spoke as well about the historic move of the first federal agency east of the Anacostia River, and the economic benefits of the federal presence, and the benefit to the Coast Guard of securing a long-awaited new, spacious headquarters.

Join the Center for Green Urbanism Email List

Just fill out a form at centerforgreenurbanism.org/contactvolunteer/join-our-e-mail-list to be added to their e-mail list so you don’t miss out on upcoming exhibitions and events! The Center for Green Urbanism, LLC is a green business incubator. While searching for office space in downtown Ward 7, city-dwellers and co-founders Dennis and Zandra Chestnut came upon an old building formerly used as a residential/commercial space. They turned it into a green business incubator. Always looking for ways to decrease carbon footprints, the Center offers temporary and long-term office space at affordable rates. Tenants share offices with the amenities of a professional environment including Wi-Fi, copying and fax capabilities. There is a large space available for conferences, meetings, classes, and special events. Use their Event Registration Form if you are interested in becoming a tenant or renting out the large space. E-mail or call them with any questions. 3938 Benning Rd. NE. 202-506-3867. centerforgreenurbanism.org

THEARC Theater Usher Orientation

Usher orientation will happen on Feb 9 from 11:00 a.m.-noon in order to screen prospective ushers for THEARC Theater productions. Those interested should come dressed in business casual attire and have a professional demeanor for consideration. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org

Single Lanes Planned for (I-395) and Ramp to Maine Avenue, SW

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has implemented overnight single lane conditions on both sides of the Southwest Freeway (I-395) between 9th and 12th Streets. The ramp to Maine Avenue, SW on the southbound Southwest Freeway (I-395) will also be reduced to a single lane. The lane closures will allow crews to prepare for the upcoming rehabilitation work that is planned for the L’Enfant Promenade Bridge. These closures will occur daily between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. the following day through mid-February. These lane closures will shift from the right side to the left side of the roadway as the work progresses. Variable message

Frederick Douglass in Washington, DC.: The Lion of Anacostia Tour

boards will be in place to provide motorists with advance warning about the lane closures. In the event of inclement weather or other unforeseen conditions, this work may be cancelled, rescheduled or extended as needed and an updated advisory will be distributed.

Wacky and Whimsical Tea to Benefit THEARC

The “Wacky & Whimsical Tea to Benefit THEARC” is a fun-filled Sunday afternoon that will include high tea, a silent auction and creative games for kids of all ages and their families, including a treasure trove, special entertainment and other surprises. Event takes place Mar 3, 2-4 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, 1150 22nd St. NW. $85 per child; $150 per adult. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC).

Shepherd Parkway Cleanup Volunteers Needed

On Saturday, Feb 23, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., join the Congress Heights Community Association as they work to restore one of the most unique wooded

The remarkable story of Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave who became a famous social reformer, is told in most history books. Yet little is known about Douglass’s final years in Anacostia, the first planned sub-division of DC, where he carried out his unrelenting advocacy for civil and gender rights, and served as marshal of the District. On Feb 23 at 11 a.m., join John Muller, author of “Frederick Douglass in Washington, D.C.: The Lion of Anacostia” (The History Press, 2012) at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site’s Visitors Center where you’ll ascend to the summit of Cedar Hill, the estate where Douglass spent the last 18 years of his life, and take in its majestic views of the capital. John will share stories of Douglass’s professional and personal undertakings there, including his controversial second marriage and his work for a groundbreaking newspaper. As you descend into Anacostia, John will reveal the history of the homes and sights

areas in the District! Meet at 4th and Mellon sts. SE. If you have questions, contact Congress Heights Community Association member Nathan Harrington at nbharrington@yahoo.com or 301-758-5892.

Women in Sustainability Community Forum at the Anacostia Community Museum

This forum explores the diverse roles and contributions of women, at local and national levels, to the environmental movement in the areas of development, education, religion, and community activism. Topics to be discussed include women’s empowerment in economic, social, and community contexts and the impact of such empowerment on the larger community. Confirmed panelists include Ellen Cecile McBarnette, owner, Urban Solar Solutions; Kara Davis, Steering Community, Green Living DC; Sharon Bradley RLA, Bradley Site Design; Acacia Bamberg Salatti, director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships; and Edith Hancock, owner, DC EcoGreen. The forum is on Feb 12, at 7

that still remain, bringing the prominent historical characters to life. $30. Guests are advised to brings cameras and wear comfortable shoes. For more information visit, sidetour.com.

On Feb 23, discover the life and times of Frederick Douglass in Anacostia with historian and author John Muller on a tour of the historic neighborhood. Photo: DaJonna Richardson

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM H 17

p.m., Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu

Help Needed with Wetland Site Fencing Along Anacostia River

This spring, the Anacostia Watershed Society will be restoring wetlands along the Anacostia River. The second step in the process is the removal of old fencing and construction of new fencing that will protect the area from pesky Canada geese. They need your help on Thursday, Mar 7, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Volunteers will meet at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. The street address of the gardens is 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. This event will likely involve digging, lifting, bending, and walking for fair distances. Participants will be expected to wear boots or waders for the duration of the event. The event is not suitable for young children or those with health issues. If you think any of the physical requirements will be problematic, please let them know or consider joining another event. Contact Membership and Volunteer Coordinator at 301-699-6204 ext. 109 or mkoenig@anacostiaws.org. anacostiaws.org

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Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinic

There is a Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinic on Wednesday, Feb 13, 5-7:30 p.m. The venue is the Office on Latino Affairs, 2000 14th St. NW, Reeves Municipal Building. OLA, the Hispanic Bar Association of DC and the DC Bar Pro Bono Program are working together to offer this free legal clinic which is for aspiring or existing small business owners. Attendees will meet oneon-one with attorneys for brief advice on any legal issues their businesses may be facing. For more information, visit dcbar.org/ced.

DDOT Invites Public to Idea Exchange

On Feb 9, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is holding a DC Idea Exchange, a family-friendly public event, held to share ideas about how District residents, workers and visitors can have convenient and reliable multimodal options that connect them to economic and quality of life opportunities. Anyone who drives, walks, bikes, rides a bus, or takes a train in DC should attend to help shape the plan to develop a bold, new transportation vision for the District. The Idea Exchange will introduce moveDC, a collaborative transportation planning effort to incorporate all methods of transportation in the District of Columbia into a single Multimodal Long Range Transportation Plan. moveDC is led by DDOT’s Policy, Planning and Sustainability Administration (PPSA) and is expected

to be completed by early 2014. After the Idea Exchange, there will be workshops, public meetings, surveys, and other ways to stay engaged in the process. Follow the project online at wemoveDC.org, on Facebook (facebook.com/WeMoveDC) and Twitter (twitter.com/wemovedc). For those who need special accommodations or language assistance services (translation or interpretation), contact Jordyne Blaise, Office of Civil Rights, 202-671-5117 or Jordyne.Blaise@ dc.gov by Feb 6. These services will be provided free of charge.

DDOT 101 Orientation Webinar for DBE Firms

On Feb 11, 10 a.m.-noon, the District Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights is hosting a DDOT 101 Orientation webinar on Monday, Feb 11, for DBE firms. The webinar is part of DDOT’s Office of Civil Rights webinar series on How to Do Business with DDOT. This webinar will provide an overview of DDOT’s organizational structure, roles and responsibilities as well as key details on the agency’s contract and procurement process. Endrea Frazier, Vice President of Legion Design/Campbell & Associates will facilitate the webinar. This training is free of charge and is required for all newly certified and re-evaluated DBE firms. It is also open to other small businesses who are interested in conducting business with the agency. Advanced registration is required no later than Friday, Feb 8, at 3.gotomeeting.com/ register/791191806. For more information, contact Chloe Miles at cmiles@mhmiles. com or 202-525-2740. For information about DDOT’s Office of Civil Rights, visit ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/About+DDOT/ Who+We+Are/Civil+Rights.

4th Annual DC Black Theatre Festival Open Call

The DC Drama Department is proud to announce the 2013 DC Black Theatre Festival, a week-long festival celebrating the thriving theatre community in Washington DC, June 21-30. Playwrights of all skill levels and races are encouraged to submit. All chosen Full-length Plays, New Works Reading Series and Workshop are supported by the festival with 100% of the ticket sales going directly to the performing group, facilitator and/or playwright. Submission categories: full-length plays, one-act plays, new works reading, workshops and plays with erotic themes (for adult theatre program). Submit your application online at DCBlackTheatreFestival.com or DCBTF.com. The deadline for all submissions are Mar 1. Any questions? Contact the DCBTF staff at info@DCBTF.org.

District’s Committee of 100 Accepting Nominations for 2013 Vision Awards

The Committee of 100 on the Federal City is accepting nominations from Washington, DC residents for the 2013 Vision Awards, which will include a celebration of the organization’s 90th year. These awards are given each year to District projects, plans, individuals and organizations that bring the principles of the iconic L’Enfant and McMillan plans to the challenges of 21st century land use issues. Information about award categories and the nomination form can be found at committeeof100.net/visionawards/2013-nominations-open. Nominations will be accepted up to Friday, Mar 15 at 5 p.m. Winners will be honored at a cocktail reception in early June.

Unity Health Care Wins National Technology Award

Unity Health Care, a safety net provider in the DC area will receive the HIMSS Davies Award for Health Information Technology at the upcoming HIMSS conference in New Orleans. Unity, a federally qualified health center has implemented Electronic Health Records and over a two-year period, this implementation resulted in $12.2 million in additional revenue, increased efficiency and provider productivity (which increased by 21%). That income rise far outweighed the $5.5 million that Unity invested in the EHR. It also included approximately $2.66 million in government EHR incentives. UnityHealthCare.org

Free Credit Counseling

Having good credit is more important than ever. Today, credit checks are required not only when applying for a loan or a credit card but also when applying for a rental lease and even some jobs. Housing Counseling Services, Inc. (HCS), a non-profit agency, now offers free Money Matters workshops on how to repair and improve credit. These workshops help consumers understand all of the factors that affect their credit, how to build credit and repair damaged credit, and how to dispute errors on credit reports and deal with loan fraud and identity

theft. Individual credit counseling is also available by appointment. Please call HCS at 202-667-7006 for more information or attend the next Money Matters workshop on Wednesday, Feb 13, at 6:00 p.m. at 2410 17th St. NW, Suite #100.

Call for Mayor’s Arts Awards Nominations

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities is accepting nominations for the 28th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards. The awards are the most prestigious honors conferred by the city on individual artists, teachers, nonprofit organizations and patrons of the arts. The Mayor’s Arts Awards recognizes artists and organizations in five categories-Excellence in an Artistic Discipline, Excellence in Service to the Arts, Innovation in the Arts, Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education, and Outstanding Emerging Artist. The awards are limited to individuals and not-forprofit organizations that reside in the District of Columbia. The Mayor’s Awards for Arts Teaching are limited to full-time arts teachers who are employed by a District of Columbia elementary, middle or high school. The three categories for arts teaching are Excellence in Teaching Performing Arts, Excellence in Teaching Visual Arts and Excellence in Teaching Language Arts. Teachers in all artistic disciplines (visual arts, music, theatre, dance or humanities-based) are eligible for nomination. Click here, dcarts.dc.gov/DC/DCARTS/ Events/Mayor’s+Arts+Awards, for more information.

Free Radon Test Kits for DC Residents

Radon gas may be in your home. Radon is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer. Testing is the only way to know if your home is safe. Call the District Department of the Environment at 202-535-2302 for a free radon test kit. To request a kit online, visit ddoe.dc.gov/radon.

Correction

Jabali Nash is not the proprietor of Housing Evaluations Plus. Mr. Nash works as the Director of Construction at ARCH Development Corporation (ADC). u

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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

The Race Begins!

One Voters Sentiment. Photo: Andrew Lightman

by Martin Austermuhle

ouncilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) may be the only member of the D.C. Council crossing his fingers for U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ron Machen to bring the hammer down on Mayor Vince Gray. Why? Because it’s as good a chance as the longest-serving member of the city’s legislature will get to finally move up to the sixth floor of the Wilson Building. With Gray gone and a hastily called special election leaving candidates little time to organize and fundraise, Evans would be able to call upon his well-heeled supporters to quickly stock his campaign coffers with the money needed for the electoral sprint. With a large bankroll and a small electorate to convince, Evans could finally satisfy his longstanding wishes to become mayor, albeit only until the end of Gray’s term in early 2015. With 2013 upon us, it’s time to start the mayoral prognosticating again. Too early, you say? Nonsense: the 2014 primary is next April, hardly 15 months off. If candidates with true aspirations haven’t already put a date on when they plan to announce their intentions, they’re already behind the curve. (See Fenty, Adrian.) And even more pressing is the fact that Machen continues investigating Gray’s 2010 campaign, leaving open the possibility that he could resign and a special election could be suddenly called. In that circumstance, Evans would be at a significant advantage. But in any other normal circumstance—Gray finishes out his term unscathed—Councilmembers Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) and Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), both of whom are likely contenders, would quickly become the frontrunners in the race to replace Gray. Both are candidates that come well-prepared for their respec-

tive mayoral bids, enjoying similar benefits and drawbacks that would make a matchup between the two interesting to watch—and hard to call.

20 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| February 2013

Location, Location, Location

First, Bowser. She hails from Ward 4, which for long has posted high turnout (42 percent in the 2010 primary, higher than any other place in D.C.) and served as a decisive bellweather in citywide elections. Lose Ward 4, the thinking goes, and you stand to lose the election. (In 2010, Fenty lost it to Vince Gray, all but sealing his fate; last November David Grosso took a significant number of votes from Michael Brown on his way to the big upset.) For now, Ward 4 seems to be safely behind her: in last year’s April primary, Bowser fended off five challengers, taking just shy of 65 percent of the vote. But not only is Ward 4 her base, but it will also play a role in helping Bowser define herself and her candidacy. During a January swearing-in speech that could just as well have doubled as an official announcement of her decision to enter the mayoral race, Bowser used Ward 4 to establish her citywide bonafides. “In Ward 4, we are a perfect microcosm of the city. We are black and white and Latino. We are Christian and Jews, we are straight and gay, we are east of the park and west of the park. We’ve lived in D.C. for five decades and we’ve lived here for five minutes. We’re Democrats and Republicans. We are dreamers,” she said. Wells is no less well-situated. Ward 6 is now the biggest single ward in the city with 69,367 registered voters in 2012. It also boasts some of the precincts with highest turnout and the single-fastest growing precincts. In the 2010 election, Wells won 75.10% of the vote in the Democratic primary.

With the 2011 redistricting, Ward 6 now stretches from Shaw to the Anacostia River, encompassing demographic diversity that is the envy of much of the divided city. It is the only ward to touch all three quadrants and both rivers. In November, Grosso used Ward 6 precincts to help carry him to victory, racking up impressive margins in parts of Capitol Hill that Brown could not overcome elsewhere.

Crafting and Managing an Identity

Both Bowser and Wells have good places from where they can launch their campaigns, but they’ve also been careful in crafting and managing their identities on the council- especially Wells. By becoming the guiding voice on the council for a livable and walkable D.C., Wells has shored up support among the new urbanists across the city. More so than Bowser, Wells has crafted an issue-based identity for himself over the last few years and pushed legislative initiatives to support it. On the environmental side, his crowning achievement was the Anacostia Cleanup and Protection Act of 2009, the so-called “Bag Bill,” which put a tax on plastics bags to fund cleanup of the river. He also has waged a quixotic crusade for ethics and campaign finance reform in the face of opposition from his colleagues on the dais. He was a strong supporter Public Trust’s campaign to

ban corporate contributions to DC elections. His recent oversight of the libraries and parks, has allowed him to make a name for himself outside of Ward 6. Wells has just taken over the helm of the Judiciary Committee, which will no doubt garner him even more District-wide attention. While Bowser has played it a little more safely, she has avoided the controversies that bedevil many of her colleagues with a laser-like focus on constituent services. With new residents, she has played up her associations with Fenty. Alternatively, she has diligently represented the concerns of old African-American residents on issues of taxation and parking. Dogged in her oversight role as chair of the Committee on Government Operations, she has been a consistent advocate of open government. There, Bowser guided the adoption of comprehensive ethics legislation in late 2011, which garnered her citywide attention.

Timing and Challenges

Both Bowser and Wells have been quietly laying the groundwork for their mayoral bids for quite a while. Wells openly said last July that he was eyeing a run. In January, he promised to launch an exploratory campaign in order to raise money and hire staff. Bowser has remained mum on her plans. However, after crushing all comers in last year’s Ward 4 Democratic primary, she opted to spend money on her campaign—including ads placed on 14th Street bus lines. She can count on strong support from old Fentyites such as political consultant Tom Lindenfeld and former councilmember William Lightfoot. That’s not to say that both don’t have obstacles to overcome. While Bowser isn’t far from Fenty on many things, she’ll still have to carefully balance when to make the association and when to avoid. Ward 1? Sure! Ward 7? Maybe not. As the chair of the council’s Economic Development Committee, she will certainly

have access to money, and a higher citywide profile. However, she’ll also have to handle accusations that she’s a tool of the city’s most prominent developers. Finally, if Councilmember Vincent Orange (D-At Large) runs, she’ll face the likelihood that they’ll be fighting for some of the same votes. Wells, on the other hand, will have to overcome the difficult stigma of being a white candidate in a city that largely still isn’t. Being the dean of livable and walkable DC may engender support among people enamored with bike lanes, but it can still be a hard sell to communities that have more pressing needs. Yet, Wells has had a great deal of experience reaching out to those communities during his tenure overseeing Human Services, and at his perch at Parks and Rec. Undoubtedly, the public will see a tough-talking Wells at the helm of the Judiciary Committee. He will seek to balance any Bowser fiscal advantage by recruiting a set of true-believing volunteers to staff his effort.

Finding a Path to Victory

Wells and Bowser are both compelling candidates; and what makes this contest even more interesting is how each will find their way to victory. In this, Bowser has more options. She’ll play up her Fenty acolyte credentials when she wants, while stressing her Washingtonian roots to long-term residents skittish about the new urbanism. If Orange doesn’t run, she will work hard to secure the city’s eastern wards while pulling in enough of Ward 3’s votes to narrow Wells’ options for victory. While Wells rests his hopes on Ward 6. He will contest Bowser in the city’s eastern half. That’s not to say Wells is a rival to be taken lightly—if anything, he’s managed his two terms with surprising political skill, and he’ll likely organize an enviable campaign organization. All the while, Evans will simply be hoping that Gray is forced to resign before April 2013. Martin Austermuhle is the Editorin-Chief of DCist.com and a freelance writer. He lives in Columbia Heights. u

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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

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DC is Swimming in Cash When Will it Spend Some of It to Make DC Stronger? by Ed Lazere

he District’s financial fortunes have turned around stunningly from the Great Recession. The city ran a $400 million surplus last year, and tax collections in 2013 are even better than in 2012. With the city’s population growing at the fastest rate in decades and construction cranes continuing to dot the horizon in many neighborhoods, things are looking good. You might think this would have prompted discussions about neglected investments that the city could now afford to make. You’d be wrong. Mayor Gray wants to put the 2012 surplus in reserves, to help improve DC’s bond rating. And despite obvious signs of growing coffers this year, the CFO has declined to officially certify the new revenues – out of concern that federal budget cutbacks will kill DC’s economic buzz. To borrow from The Rime of the Mariner, there is water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink. That may change soon. Mayor Gray has signaled an interest in restoring cuts to programs that were left under-funded in the recession, such as programs that help build affordable housing. That is good news. While building up savings is fiscally

responsible, so is making targeted investments that meet high priority needs and improve DC’s the quality of life. The good news is that it looks like DC will have resources to save some and spend some. DC’s rising resources also are an opportunity to tackle some thorny problems. Prior to the recession, for example, the city started a process to end chronic homelessness, but that effort has stalled for years. DC Public Schools Chancellor wants to raise

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leaders back from making some smart uses of the growing revenues.

DC’s $400 Million Surplus: Wow!

test scores at the lowest-performing schools, yet hasn’t been given any new resources to do so. This enthusiasm needs to be dampened a bit by the outlook for the federal budget. If there are deep cuts, DC will have to make up for reduced grants in transportation, education, health care and more. And if cuts in the federal workforce are steep, the DC area will feel the effects especially hard. While that calls for some caution, it shouldn’t hold DC’s

Every January, the District finds out how our budget fared in the previous year, when the audit of city finances is released. Dr. Gandhi, the CFO, always steers the District’s financial ship to have at least a modest surplus – since a deficit could bring back a federal control board. But we never know just how large it will be. It is sort of like the city’s Christmas bonus, a month late. Apparently we were good boys and girls last year. Revenues in 2012 were $400 million higher than expenses, both because tax collections were higher than expected ted and because expenditures were lower than expected. Mayor Gray’s plan is to place 100% of any surplus into savings, to build up reserves that fell in the recession. The goal is to save $700 million in two recently created reserves. That is a lot of money to set aside, when there are school library shelves that are bare and funds to help victims of domestic violence are depleted. We at the DC Fiscal Policy

Institute have always taken a spend some/save some approach to the city’s annual surplus. That said, the savings million target should be reached soon, probably a year from now, and Mayor Gray says it will be ok to spend the surplus at that point. Beyond that, the city’s tax collections this year appear to be so strong that we can save the full surplus and still have resources to spend to improve education, health care, housing, and more.

Tax Collections Coming In Strongly This Year – But Not Officially

DC’s good financial news isn’t just about last year’s surplus. Tax collections are pouring in this year at a rapid clip, not because of rate changes but because the economy is doing so well. As of the first quarter of the city’s fiscal year, cash reports show collections are 18 percent higher than a year before. Imagine your salary rising 18 percent, or getting 18 percent return on an investment. That is how good the news is. Except that the increase has not been officially recognized yet. The CFO has declined for an entire year to make any estimates of tax collections for 2013, even though such forecasts are supposed to be done every quarter. The reason? Dr. Gandhi has cited federal budget uncertainty to delay making projections of 2013 revenues. In particular, deep cuts from “sequestration” could lead to cuts in federal employment and contracting, which would hurt the DC region. Yet when the next revenue forecast comes out – in February – the CFO will have four months of actual tax collections for 2013 to look at, and it will be hard for him to ignore that reality. The federal budget picture remains unclear, and probably will for some time. DC needs to move ahead and adjust economic and revenue forecasts as new information becomes available.

So What Can DC Do with its Growing Revenue?

To start, the District can restore programs that were cut in the recession. Funding for affordable housing fell one-fourth in recent

years, even though rents in the city continued to rise in the recession. Beyond restoring cuts, DC can make some bold investments to tackle problems that have vexed the city for years--such as eliminating chronic homelessness. During the winter, families have a right to shelter, and the system gets overwhelmed, leading to reliance on motels to house some families. Starting April 1, the District’s obligation ends, and families get turned away even if they have no safe place to go. With growing resources, the city can tackle homelessness year-round and in a way that gets families out of shelters as fast as possible. Education is another area ready for transformation. Later this year, the city will release a study on the adequacy of funding for DC schools. Contrary to popular perception, DC does not spend a lot more per-pupil than suburban jurisdictions, if special education is taken out. The DCPS chancellor wants schools with proficiency rates hovering around 25% to gain 40 points over five years. That cannot be done without added resources for things such as longer school days. Finally, the District could use its new-found resources to make a number of smaller investments, such as extending library hours and enhancing library collections, better funding of job training programs, and expanding Capital Bikeshare. There will be those who argue that the District should return the surplus through tax cuts. And that may make sense in targeted ways. But if the city is thriving now, with its current tax system, the argument for reducing taxes to improve competitiveness is weak. A 2011 poll of DC voters found that maintaining good services is far more important than holding taxes down. It is great news that the District is a stronger city than it has been in a long time. The test for the Mayor and DC Council will be how they use the city’s growing resources to make it even stronger. Lazere is the executive director of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org), which conducts research on tax and budget issues that affect low- and moderate-income DC residents. u EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM H

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

ARCH Development Corporation Prepares for 2013 By Charnice A. Milton

he historic Anacostia area has been experiencing rejuvenation, and the rest of the city is beginning to take notice. Voters at Curbed DC in December named the area Neighborhood of the Year, and Urban Turf said it had the “most improved reputation.” Although a healthy real estate market and recent Last year ARCH Development Corporation established the redevelopment projects are two major East of the River Distinguished Artist Award and the LUreasons for the recognition, efforts by MEN8Anacostia festival, and opened HIVE 2.0 (pictured), organizations like ARCH Development a small-business incubator. Photo: Charnice Milton Corporation (ADC) have helped turn Anacostia into an up-and-coming neighborhood. At their first community meeting of the year ADC invited residents to see and evaluate what they have planned for 2013.

How It All Began

President and CEO Duane Gautier had ties to Anacostia before ADC began; he lived in the neighborhood in 1961 while completing a summer internship. However, when he returned in 1980 to work at PEPCO, the area had changed from a middle-class neighborhood to one of the city’s poorest. Gautier originally founded ADC as a job training center, but the focus in recent years has changed to economic regeneration through the arts, culture, and business development. The nonprofit organization still operates with a small staff, but their influence is felt across the Anacostia area. “Our role isn’t to be the end-all, be-all of what’s going on in Anacostia,” Gautier said at the January community meeting. “We’re here to act as a catalyst.” 24 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| February 2013

Anacostia’s Art Scene

Thanks to ADC’s efforts Anacostia has been recognized as an up-and-coming arts district. In addition to acquiring Anacostia Playhouse, ADC also brought four art galleries to the area. “For a lot of visitors, this is their gateway to Anacostia,” said Phil Hutinet, ADC’s COO and Honfleur Gallery’s managing director. “People are surprised and impressed that we show international artists like Fredrick Nauyczyciel, and the architecture is in line with that of other well-known galleries.” In addition, all the galleries feature artists living east of the Anacostia River. Over the past six years local visitors have enjoyed Honfleur’s East of the River exhibit. Also, one of the biggest stories to come from Anacostia this year involved the first annual East of the River Distinguished Artist Award. Funded by the Gautier family, the $5,000 cash prize goes to celebrate an area artist’s achievements and impact on city culture. BK ADAMS•I AM ART received the honor, while donating his cash prize to a Kenyan maternity hospital his church supports. This year the galleries will feature exhibits including a solo show by Adams and an exploration of DC-based jazz across three media, in addition to bestowing its second East of the River Distinguished Artist Award.

A Place for “Busy Bees”

Although ADC has met success in reviving the community with culture and the arts, they are also dedicated to fostering small businesses. In 2010 they opened HIVE (Home of Innovators, Visionaries, and Entrepreneurs) on Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue. Located in an Enterprise and HUBZone, HIVE provides affordable office space and servic-

es for small businesses, freelancers, and nonprofits. “We reached capacity at the HIVE quickly and were fielding requests almost daily for more office space,” said Nikki Peele, who serves as managing director. “We also realized that for businesses who were growing out of the first HIVE they need a space to go if they were going to stay in Anacostia.” As a result, HIVE 2.0 opened last November around the corner on Good Hope Road. According to Peele, HIVEs collectively have more than 25 members, representing both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and are looking for more. “Small business owners and entrepreneurs in need of affordable, flexible, and prime office space should contact us today for a tour,” she said. “Our small business spaces are about community and collaboration so we are always on the lookout for ‘busy bees.’”

Improving Storefronts

Residents have become used to seeing wornout storefronts with bars on the windows. However, ADC’s storefront improvement project is trying to change this. Financed by a grant from DC Housing and Community Development, the storefront improvement project has a twofold purpose. “First, this will give a better impression for residents,” said David Garber, the director for the initiative. “Second, this will help boost business. When the outside improves, more people will feel comfortable shopping there.” They will partner with Bethesda-based development company Streetsense and preservation firm DC Historic Design to complete up to 25 projects this year along Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue. “Some changes will require major construction,” Garber said. “But, some could

be as simple as a coat of paint or new signage.” ADC will also pay for up to 80 percent (or $5000) of each project.

An Illuminating Event

ARCH partnered with the DC Office of Planning and ArtPlace last summer to launch LUMEN8Anacostia, a neighborhood festival featuring art, music, and light. Attendees visited creative projects housed in under-used storefronts and property. At night the Anacostia corridor was splashed with colorful lights. “The goal of LUMEN8Anacostia is to celebrate Anacostia and to showcase the rich artistic talent that exists east of the River,” said Hutinet. “If attendance and press reaction are considered measures of achievement then the 5,000 attendees and media accolades certainly indicate that LUMEN8 was a success.” This year planning for LUMEN8 could be challenging; ADC is working with a smaller budget and fewer storefronts are available due to development. ADC is planning to move the festivities outside, into one central area. They also plan on having more art-related children’s activities during the day. “The smaller budget and lack of project space are challenges that are easily met,” Hutinet stated. “We will still provide high-quality arts programming in a festival format that is accessible to the general public.” The festivities begin on June 22.

ing options participate in the Eat Shop Live Anacostia (ESLA) initiative, a neighborhood marketing and empowerment campaign highlighting the best in the area. To spot participating establishments just look for the green flags.

Getting the Word Out

Although ADC and its programs helped Anacostia improve its image, it’s up to residents to continue that momentum. “There are a lot of great things in Anacostia, and more of the District’s residents should take an opportunity to discover them first-hand and not rely on negative (often overly broad) news reports to shape the perception of this neighborhood,” said Peele, who also acts as ADC’s director of marketing and business development. She suggested that residents support events and businesses in Anacostia and use social media to tell others their favorite things about the area. “The revitalization of Anacostia is tied directly to the efforts of its residents, business and property owners,” Peele stated. “It is they who make Anacostia great and a neighborhood to watch.” To learn more about ADC and its initiatives visit archdevelopment.org/. u

Retail Coming Soon

Gautier noted that there is still more work to do. “I think that it’s important to bring in restaurant and retail to Anacostia,” he said. ADC is exploring bids to bring not only more shopping choices but also art venues. Many of Anacostia’s present retail and dinEASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM H 25

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Is This My Month or Are You Just Happy to See Me? by E. Ethelbert Miller

t’s February again. Should I celebrate Black History Month or just St. Valentine’s Day? Which is more difficult – being black or falling in love? What I love about DC, is that it’s a city where history can jog or walk alongside you. This city is almost Ground Zero if you want to remember the Civil War. I keep thinking one day I’m going to run into Walt Whitman caring for black youth near Gallery Place. The world keeps changing and now and then I notice that I’ve been moving a little slower. I also find old habits and behavior slipping away without a wave or a hint of a good-bye. I would hate for Black History Month to disappear like Saturday mail or bus service in Southeast Washington. With all this post-racial lint and ash being attracted to black bodies one never knows. I can see Black History Month ending like a librarian deselecting a collection of books. Before I lived in D.C., I lived in the South Bronx. In the years before rap music, the cold air would blow down Longwood Avenue and come February one thought about getting out of school on Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays

and about cutting out hearts for Valentine’s Day. There was only Negro History Week then. Teachers made bulletin board displays and George Washington Carver appeared like the old black man on the box of Uncle Ben’s rice. No one told me that the historian Carter G. Woodson started the whole thing back in 1926. It was 1959 and I was into playing baseball even in the snow. I was nine and blackness was seen primarily in the rocks of coal being delivered to my apartment building. My father worked in the post-office, having come to America from Panama, his father staying behind resulted in his roots being cut in half like a canal across his heart. I came of age without any real knowledge of segregation or the Civil Rights Movement. I was the baby in the family protected from my own ignorance. Looking back on my childhood, I wish I had been given more than a flu shot of Negro History Week. Even today my body needs more than a month of Black History. The present continues to be a dangerous place to live. I walk these DC streets, I ride the buses, I listen to the profanity of school children, I see and no

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| February 2013

longer see the homeless, or the men with dirt and construction mud on their clothes, women waiters, secretaries, busboys, government workers, and everyone from Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Bosnia, Korea, North Carolina and Louisiana. History descends and pulls all of us into a strange gumbo. How best to make sense out of all these ingredients? What is the history of all this? At times we all need to see the green lights. We need to know when to – go. Hopefully, an understanding of history provides a roadmap. How many times have I been lost in this city? A neighborhood changes, we give a street a different name. What will be the “history” of all this new construction around town? Will Black History Month one day be taught and celebrated in a city with just a few black people? Will Chuck Brown be just a street and Duke Ellington a building? Memories are the things we cannot forget. There is so much Black History I still know nothing about. Every month there is something new to learn. Lincoln is in the movies – true Emancipation is still a coming attraction. Be sure to check out the trailer this month. u

DCPS to Close Six Schools in Wards 7 and 8

C Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Kaya Henderson announced that only six schools in Wards 7 and 8, rather than the proposed nine schools, will close at the end of this school year. Henderson cited various reasons for keeping Smothers, Johnson, and Malcolm X open, including concerns about children’s safety, projected enrollment growth, and DCPS’ plan to pilot a partnership with a neighboring charter school. With 42 percent of the city’s charter schools in Wards 7 and 8, however, will this latest round of school closures drive DC closer to having two separate school systems?

The Benefits of Closing Schools

While the academic effects and communal impact of closing four elementary schools, one middle school, and a K-8 school remain to be seen, the anticipated financial benefits are significant. DCPS “can save at least half of what was spent” on the last round of school closures in 2008, according to Chancellor Henderson, who anticipates an annual savings of $8.5 million by closing underenrolled schools, many of which are in outdated buildings. “Additional savings from reductions to the [DCPS] central office” will also be directed to “core reading programs, world language programs, and library and media services,” according to DCPS’ Consolidation and Reorganization Plan, though DCPS has not specified the nature of these reductions.

Community Involvement

During the two months after releasing their consolidation proposal, Chancellor Henderson and DCPS representatives met with various constituents, including Education Councils from Wards 5, 7, and 8, and held ward-based community meetings. Community members came out in force. In Ward 7, according to data provided by DCPS, 231 people

by Ellen Boomer

attended, while the meeting in Ward 8 drew 169 attendees. DCPS responded to the significant community input by modifying their original proposal to ensure children have a safe commute and a smooth transition to their new schools. “We are committed to busing elementary students whose current school is more than a half-mile away from the receiving school,” according to the Consolidation and Reorganization Plan, because “ensuring student safety and having schools within walking distance were particular transition concerns.” “Many expressed concerns about the unchecked growth of poor-performing charter schools east of the river,” according to DCPS, asserting “the need to partner with the charter school community to ensure that our services complement each other…” In fact, DCPS will pilot this type of partnership between Malcolm X ES and a high-performing charter school nearby. Another concern that DC residents expressed during the community meetings was the fate of vacant school buildings. “We will continue working closely with the public to manage the re-use of our facilities for the benefit of students and the community,” DCPS has asserted.

Remaining Concerns over Closings

Despite the months of community meetings and feedback from concerned residents, several concerns remain, particularly in Wards 5, 7, and 8, where 8 of the 15 closing schools are located. During the 2008 school closures DCPS lost 3,000 students to private and public charter schools, and more than 2,500 students will be impacted in this round of consolidations. During the past two years enrollment in charter schools has increased 21 percent, and approximately 40 percent of students in DC attend a charter school.

These numbers are particularly significant in Wards 7 and 8, where 39 percent of school-age children live and where a charter school may be half a block from one of the city’s public schools. “I will not accept under-enrollment as the sole basis for closing Ward 7 schools,” Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander wrote in a press release. “If our schools in Ward 7 are under-enrolled, it is because they are under-funded and under-programmed.” “I am tremendously upset that Chancellor Henderson made the decision to close four Ward 7 schools without conducting a comprehensive study on the trickle down effects that this will have on our communities and our children,” Alexander wrote.

Next Steps

Families in these wards have viable public school options, and they will not have to travel across the city to Ward 3 to find them. Two citywide schools in Ward 6, School-Within-A-School and Capitol Hill Montessori, are expanding. Ward 6 can “support Wards 5, 7, and 8 and the whole city,” Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells said. By “substantially expanding programs parents choose and like,” Chancellor Henderson is being “entrepreneurial in a competitive [educational] environment,” Wells asserted. “We have to get this round of school closings right,” DC Council Education Committee Chairman David Catania asserted during the Education Committee hearing. “We have to show demonstrated success soon.” Otherwise, he stated, “I believe we are within a year or two of hitting an irreversible tipping point.” Ellen Boomer is an Eastern Market resident, former teacher, current tutor, and freelance writer. She can be reached at emboomer@gmail.com. u EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM H 27

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

School Closures: The Specifics by Charnice A. Milton

hen DC Public School (DCPS) Chancellor Kaya Henderson originally announced her school consolidation plan last November, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders across the city made their opinions known by attending office hours in the Chancellor’s office, attending community meetings, and submitting ideas online. Two months later Henderson revealed her revised consolidation plan, evoking a strong reaction in communities east of the Anacostia River. Although three schools (Smothers Elementary, Johnson Middle, and Malcolm X Elementary) were saved, that left six schools slated for closure by the end of this school year.

Davis Elementary

According to the original proposal, Davis Elementary was considered to be one of many underenrolled and under-used schools in the area. In fact, the school has only 178 students (due to a child population decline), using 40 percent of the building. If the original plan had gone through, Davis’ students, along with its autism classrooms, would be going to C.W. Harris Elementary, located less than a mile away. During the feedback process parents voiced two major concerns about the receiving school. First, families would have to travel across Benning Road during both rush hours, which could prove dangerous for small children and older guardians. Second, C.W. Harris’ test scores were significantly lower than those of Davis. In the new proposal students from Davis will be relocated to Plummer Elementary, a higher-performing school located less than a mile away. DCPS also plans to provide transportation, if needed. 28 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

Kenilworth Elementary

The original DCPS proposal stated that Kenilworth Elementary is located in an area projected to experience a child population decline until 2020. Currently the school has 147 students, using 37 percent of the building; however, one-third of the students actually live within Houston Elementary’s boundaries. As in the original proposal, Kenilworth’s students will be moving Ferebee-Hope Elementary students perform a cheer protesting school to Houston in the next school year. closures during a candlelight vigil on January 15. Two days later Despite their proximity, I-295 Ferebee-Hope was announced as one of 15 schools slated for closure in the next two school years. Photo: Charnice Milton separates Kenilworth and Houston. Not only did DCPS promise to provide transportation between the two schools, they took the community’s suggestion of making Thomas Elementary middle-school program with so few students. Next another receiving school; like Kenilworth, Thom- year, students, including rising 6th graders from as is located along I-295, making transportation its feeder schools (including Thomas, Houston, easier. Also, there were concerns about how the and Kenilworth) will be attending Kelly Miller DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative (DCPNI), Middle, which recently upgraded its facilities. As a nonprofit serving the Kenilworth area, would be for its nine self-contained special education classimpacted. DCPS stated that they will collaborate rooms, they will be relocated to Johnson, Hart, Jefwith DCPNI “to ensure that we leverage the site ferson, and Whittier Education Center. to support the redevelopment goals of this community, including a recreation center through the Winston Education Campus Department of Recreation.” According to the original proposal Winston Education Campus is under-enrolled with only 308 students across 11 grades, not enough to supRon Brown Middle Ron Brown is the sole middle school east of port a full PS-8. The updated proposal adds that the Anacostia River on the closure list. The school Winston “is part of a feeder pattern with high exwas originally slated for closure because it was cess capacity” and that the building is “very poorly considered to be extremely under-enrolled (204 designed and very oversized for the enrollment.” students) and under-used (23 percent of its buildAlthough the original proposal states that Wining). DCPS could not support a comprehensive ston’s students will transfer to Stanton Elementary

| February 2013

and Kramer Middle, the new plan adds Johnson to the list of receiving schools, mostly because of its close proximity. The new plan notes that Stanton has been showing excellent gains, as evident in its DC CAS scores; last year, 28 percent and 19 percent of its students met or exceeded math and reading standards, respectively (in comparison to 9 percent in both areas in 2011). The plan also mentions Kramer’s participation in a blended school model in which half of instruction is done through online courses.

clining enrollment to the point that less than 40 percent of students live in-boundary. M.C. TerrellMcGogney’s students will be moving to Martin Luther King, Jr., Elementary next school year.

Ferebee-Hope Elementary

According to the original proposal FerebeeHope Elementary has been experiencing a sharp enrollment decline over the last three years; community members attribute this to the continuing renovations at the Highland Dwellings housing complex. The school has 215 students using 54 percent of the building. Next year, Ferebee-Hope’s students will attend Hendley Elementary. During neighborhood discussions participants noted that Ferebee-Hope also functioned as a recreation center, complete with a softball field and aquatics center. The new plan states that while the school will close by the end of the year, the recreation center will continue to run. As the Highland Dwellings families begin to return, DCPS plans to work with the DC Housing Authority and Department of Parks and Recreation to find ways to maintain the site as a community hub.

M.C. Terrell-McGogney Elementary

Like Davis in Ward 7, M.C. Terrell-McGogney Elementary is located in a cluster of underenrolled and under-used schools in Ward 8. For the last three years the school has experienced de-

A participant in the January 15 candlelight vigil protesting school closures displays a sign. Two days later DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson announced a finalized list of school closures. Photo: Charnice Milton

Although families voiced concerns about walkability between the two schools, the new plan states that King is less than a half-mile away with no major streets to cross; however, many parents are more concerned with possible gang violence in the area than traffic issues. DCPS has promised to work with community members and their agency partners to find safe passageways. Although the original proposal states that DCPS will work with the community to determine how to operate M.C. Terrell-McGogney’s Parent Resource Center, the new plan announces that it will

close by the end of the year. The Office of Family and Public Engagement will step in to help foster parent engagement at King.

Community Reaction

Although many are happy that some schools were taken off the original list, some community leaders and members are upset with the news. “I think that we won a huge victory, especially with Johnson; children’s lives were saved,” said Trayon White, Ward 8 representative for the DC Board of Education. “However, it’s my desire that no schools should be closed.” Eboni-Rose Thompson, chair of the Ward 7 Education Council, expressed a similar feeling for her Ward: “I’m happy for Smothers, but I hoped that the news would’ve been better for all five schools.” Her organization presented a counter-proposal during their community meeting with the chancellor; however, Thompson said that she did not receive any feedback from DCPS. Perhaps the strongest reactions came from parents of students at the affected schools. “I was upset,” said Doretha Harris, an M. C. TerrellMcGogney parent. “It’s hard for my daughter to accept change; now I have to find a new school for her.” She has three children, including a son with ADHD. Thanks to programs at the school, he has been showing improvement, but Harris wonders if he would get the same attention at a different school. “My only concern is that he reaches his goals,” she said. “Uprooting him means going through everything to calm him down.” Harris, who participated in many discussions and protests, says that she will continue to fight, warning, “You’re not going to send my children anywhere.” u EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM H 29

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Does the Nation’s Only Known Shoe Repair Program in a Public High School End with Spingarn’s Closure? by Stephen Lilienthal

have been taking the class because they can make items such as pocketbooks and sandals.

ohn “Peterbug” Matthews is in class, showing Antoine how to hold a shoe when using the finishing machine for shoe repair. “You practice twice. When you feel ready, you turn the machine on,” counsels Matthews. Soon, Matthews is telling Antoine that “for the first time on [the machine], it’s pretty good. Now, you’re going to put a heel on that shoe.” Matthews is center stage as students in Spingarn High School’s Room 108 learn about shoe repair in their class on “Applied Footwear Design 1.” Mitch Lebovic, administrator of the Shoe Service Institute of America (SSIA), a trade association representing shoe repairers and the manufacturers and wholesalers of goods essential to the shoe repair industry, says the class is the only one in the country that is known to them. The future of the class is in doubt because DC Public Schools announced in January that Spingarn will be closing. Spingarn students will be reassigned to Eastern, Dunbar, and Woodson high schools. Is a happy ending in the works?

Shoe Repair: It’s More Than You Think

Shoe Repair Mantra

Matthews knows that not every No longer the sole survivor? student in his class may be enthusiastic Matthews wants students to repair shoes so about shoe repair, but he believes the lessons can extend beyond the classroom. In his they look as good as new. “My goal is for the stuclass he seeks to impart qualities of “patience, alert- dents to be productive members of society. They ness, neatness, and common sense.” When students may not be a computer operator or the man who enter, the first thing they do is put their aprons on walks on the moon. But at least that man on the or risk being reminded to do so. Matthews stresses moon will need some space shoes,” Mr. Matentrepreneurship. Students make their own busi- thews insists. Nor is shoe repair just for guys. Young women ness cards and learn about marketing. 30 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| February 2013

Shoe repair isn’t what it used to be as a trade. In 1997 there were fewer than 7,000 shoe repair shops in the US. Back in the 1940s there were nearly 60,000, according to a history of the industry prepared by Don Rinaldi, president of the SSIA. There are reasons for that. One is that President Ronald Reagan lifted a trade barrier that had helped to protect the US shoe industry from inexpensive imports, often made with non-leather materials. Also, more casual styles, even athletic shoes, are now acceptable wear even in more formal settings. Often it is cheaper to discard worn out shoes than repair them. That concerns Matthews and the shoe repair industry. Yet, Matthews says, many people are making a good living in the city -- particularly in NW -- operating shops specializing in shoe repair. By his count the shoe repair shops east of the river can be counted on one hand and are often part of drycleaners. Matthews says there are good reasons to buy better shoes and to have them repaired. Leather shoes are likely to fit the foot better and to be constructed from footfriendly materials. They can be molded better to fit the contours of the foot. They can last longer. Shoe repair appeared to be a down-on-its heels industry. Then came the recession. Cost-conscious consumers became more likely to get their shoes repaired. Plus, repairing shoes is also in line with today’s trend of recycling.

Preparation for Life

Matthews is an exacting taskmaster in class, hovering over students, urging them to pay attention to their tasks, and imparting wisdom about the trade of shoe repair. Students learn about the different parts of a shoe, the machines used to repair shoes, and the materials, leathers, and textiles used to create shoes. At the end of the semester students must make their own shoes, and must report what materials they used and what tasks they performed. The curriculum also covers topics such as marketing, business card preparation, and developing a business plan. Michael Banner, a former student of Matthews and now a government contractor, sees him as the kind of instructor who is needed in DC. “One of the hallmarks of his character is he’ll stick with you even when you’ve given up on yourself.” Qualities such as perseverance and discipline can serve students well later in life, whether they are in shoe repair or another career. As for the importance of footwear, Banner echoes Matthews in insisting that “people don’t realize it’s the first mode of transportation. “In this era of iPads and iPods, you have to update the image of shoe repairing itself,” says Banner.

No Others Like It

Rinaldi stresses the importance of the class. “There are no shoe repair schools in the United States. There’s no other like it in the United States. We need a shoe repair school where people can learn the trade.” That is why SSIA recently donated machines and supplies to the class. Most shoe repair shops take on apprentices to learn the trade. Rinaldi wants to erase the image of the shoe repairer as an old tradesman sitting in a dingy shop. “If you have some business sense, you’ll do very well as a shoe repairer,” he insists.

Shoe repairers do particularly well in cities such as DC and New York and Chicago that have many professionals. Rinaldi says there is great opportunity for shoe repair professionals to expand their businesses. One shoe repairer in his hometown, a New York City suburb, handles work for highend fashion stores in a local mall. Shoe repairers are expanding their businesses to include selling shoes and leather goods. Blase Knabl, vice president of SSIA and of sales and marketing for Shoe Systems Plus stresses that students, once they know the elements of the shoe, will be prepared for not just shoe repair but also design and sales.

The Future

The announcement about the possible closure of Spingarn has led to all sorts of speculation about the fate of the shoe repair program. If the worst-case scenario develops, options are to move the program to a charter school or for Matthews to put more emphasis on his own independent shoe repair academy. Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells supports the program and has been talking with DCPS officials, including Chancellor Kaya Henderson, about the importance of the program. Melissa Salmanowitz, spokesperson for DCPS, after talking to the Chancellor, told The Hill Rag: “She understands and appreciates the importance of this program. We are actively working on the plans for the future of Spingarn and look forward to discussing those plans as they progress.” Rinaldi, for one, commented in December that he hopes the class survives. “It’s a great program. We’ll see how it goes.” Stephen Lilienthal is a freelance writer living in Washington, DC. u EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM H

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Grubb’s Southeast Pharmacy to Hold Grand Opening Celebration by Charnice A. Milton

fter opening back in August, Grubb’s Southeast Pharmacy will hold its grand opening celebration on February 14. “We’ve been open, but we trying to put some pieces together,” said Dr. Michael Kim, the owner and president of Grubb’s Care Pharmacy. Some of those pieces include window signage and displays, and activating insurance contracts such as the DC ADAP. “When you have a grand opening, you have to make sure that you have to be 100 percent ready,” noted coowner and head pharmacist Bill LEFT: Grubb’s Southeast Pharmacy originally opened on August 6, 2012, but will celebrate their grand opening on February 14, 2013. Fedel. Dr. Kim agreed, saying, “Now all the pieces are falling RIGHT: Bill Fedel, co-owner of Grubb’s Care Pharmacy, talks to a customer at Grubb’s Southeast. The location opened in August and business has been growing thanks to positive word-of-mouth. Photo: Charnice A. Milton. into place.” “We already serve east of the river patients at our Capitol pleasantly surprised in comparison to of an economic revival, Dr. Kim ac- tomers are telling their neighbors,” he Hill location,” Dr. Kim said referring other stores,” he stated. Fadel agreed, knowledged that like any new busi- said. “They love the service and the to Grubb’s original pharmacy on East saying, “Not everyone is fortunate to ness venture, there are some concerns design. Some say they can’t believe Capitol Street. “But we felt the need drive or take the bus or taxi across the about whether or not potential new that something like this is here!” The to expand, especially after opening our bridge. Now, they can just walk to customers will approve. “We haven’t official grand opening will feature a Northwest location.” With one central their neighborhood pharmacy.” had any issues so far,” he said. “Ev- ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor location for patients throughout the As customers enter they notice eryone here is supportive.” As for Vincent Gray and Valentine’s Day Washington, DC, area, opening new neatly stocked shelves with medicine, big-name pharmacies such as the treats for customers. Fadel hopes the stores throughout the city and Mary- toiletries, and medical equipment nearby Skyland CVS and the up- festivities will lead to bigger things land seemed the best way to serve them on one side and a fully operational coming Wal-Mart, he is not worried with Grubb’s Southeast. “We hope to better. Located on the first floor of mini-mart on the other. In addition about the possible impact: “Honestly, be open on more days,” he said, noting the DC Department of Housing and to selling the usual snacks and drinks, I’m not concerned because usually that the pharmacy is currently closed Community Development (DHCD) the mini-mart offers coffee and fresh the ‘big-box’ stores are our best refer- on the weekends. “I’ve been doing building on Martin Luther King, Jr., sandwiches and salads delivered daily. ences.” Dr. Kim explained that when this for 26 years and it feels great to Avenue, Grubb’s Southeast is the third Another refreshing change: Fadel a store doesn’t have the type of medi- be here. We already feel like a part of venue in DC and the only one located and his staff greet each customer and cine or service, such as home delivery the community; it’s a great feeling.” east of the Anacostia River. take the time to get to know them. and support groups, that a patient Not only will patients get a “They really share a lot with us,” he needs, its staff typically refer the pa- Grubb’s Southeast Pharmacy is open Grubb’s closer to home, but Dr. Kim said. “They talk about work, their tient to Grubb’s Pharmacy. Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. hopes they will receive the service families and neighbors, as it should According to Fadel, business has to 6:00 p.m. For more information visit some feel is lacking in area phar- be at a neighborhood pharmacy.” been doing well so far. “We haven’t grubbspharmacyse.com or call 202-503macies. “I think customers will be With the area in the beginning been doing any advertising, but cus- 3610 (855-820-2265 toll-free). u 32 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| February 2013

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EAST WASHINGTON LIFE

Anacostia Yogi Strikes the Warrior Pose by Jazelle Hunt

“O

n K Street there’s a thousand physi- suspicions were confirmed when a diabetic womcians, but in Southeast I can count on an got sick during one of her first classes. “I’d one hand the amount of physicians I asked if anyone had health problems, and no one see. And that’s pediatricians, dentists, everything. said anything. I realize now that she didn’t view It’s such a huge disparity.” That is one of many blunt her diabetes as a health challenge. There was no assertions made by Sariane Leigh, also known as connection [in her mind]” between illness and fitAnacostia Yogi, about her crusade to foster wellness ness. “That was really a humbling moment. I did east of the river and provide residents with the tools everything my training taught me to do, but it to achieve it. The Baltimore native moved to Ana- didn’t prepare me.” costia in 2005 after two years in the Peace Corps, The following year, Leigh went down in the working on HIV/AIDS awareness among young women in a Belizean village. “Coming back, it’s like, how is it easier to get fresh vegetables in a village in Belize than in Anacostia?” she asks. “We’re so close to so much wealth yet it’s a challenge to get basics.” According to the DC Department of Health’s most recent obesity report, in 2009 there were only seven grocery stores and organic food/farmer’s markets across wards 7 and 8, compared to 52 convenience stores and carry-outs. The city’s five-year obesity action plan asserts that every year more DC residents die from obesity-related chronic disease than from AIDS, cancer, and homicide combined. Sariane Leigh, aka Anacostia Yogi. Photo: Wanakhavi Wakhisi

Becoming Anacostia Yogi

Originally Leigh only wanted to find fitness options in her neighborhood. “There’s not really an economy for health in Southeast,” Leigh says. “There’s one for fitness in terms of obesity, there’s services for HIV and diabetes, but there’s nothing for prevention in a way that’s light and bright and encouraging.” She decided to share her transformative experience with yoga, but worried her training hadn’t addressed issues relevant to her audience. Leigh’s 34 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

trenches. She networked at community events while offering Anacostia’s first yoga classes at no charge. She enrolled in a Kemetic yoga training course and connected with organizations such as Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative and Dreaming Out Loud. Then came the grant-sponsored programs. The first let her co-produce a video to promote healthy activities, starring and aimed at Anacostia youth. Her free “Moms on the Move” workshop gave 20 young

| February 2013

single mothers eight weeks of wellness education on topics such as healthy cooking and exercise. Somewhere along the way Leigh earned the moniker Anacostia Yogi. She explains that the director of the African Heritage Drummers and Dancers, Melvin Deal, “told me that I had to slowly ease into the community, because if I didn’t people wouldn’t feel like what I was doing was for them. And he was right.” Anacostia Yogi’s signature offering is an inviting vinyasa class called Soulful Flow Yoga, held on Monday evenings at Ryland Epworth Methodist Church. Before class starts the 20 participants, mostly women of varying ages, experience levels, and physical abilities, mingle across their mats. Some are clad in their day clothes. About half have practiced with Leigh before. Almost all are beginners. The smell of lemongrass and sounds of Lauryn Hill, Corrine Bailey Rae, and Adele permeate the room as Leigh leads, naming and detailing each posture and offering less challenging modified versions. Her flow is vigorous enough to engage muscles, but gentle enough to maintain even breathing. Leigh’s theme for this first class of the new year is letting go of past issues and ailments and listening to what the body needs.

A Healthy Future for Southeast

Leigh founded her blog, AnacostiaYoga.com, in 2009 to address the lack of consistent, relevant, communal dialogue about health. Today it has 6,000 to 10,000 views per month and has become a hub for empowering posts, food for thought, health advocates, and resources east of the river,

Sariane Leigh leads a yoga class at Hillcrest Recreation Center. Photo: Andre V. Dalton

including Leigh’s classes. In addition to Soulful Flow Yoga she offers restorative and partnered classes on request, and quarterly workshops. Her most recent workshop, organized in conjunction with Black Women’s Health Imperative, focused on preventing and living with diabetes and practical solutions for a better quality of life. “I don’t know if I’m making an impact, but…I’m starting to see people demand more healthy and convenient choices,” she says. “That’s why I believe creating a health economy would work here, because I already see it happening on a grassroots level.” Leigh hopes Anacostia’s resources are channeled into creating interest and economic incentive toward the wellness field. Moving forward, she plans to offer online instruction videos, a more advanced yoga class, and more targeted workshops. Ultimately she wishes to leave behind a thriving, healthy Anacostia to train a new generation of health activists. “If I wanted to be like another neighborhood, I’d open a yoga studio and do my classes there every night and be really trendy and that’s it. But that’s not what Anacostia is.” You can connect with Sariane Leigh and learn more about her classes via her website, AnacostiaYoga.com. u EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

H 35

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE

Dispatches from the Village of Anacostia by Phil Hutinet

11th Street Bridge Park Update Bridge Park Fundraising

The Bridge Park has raised $56,400! The Bridge Park project is a plan to transform the old 11th Street Brige, now replaced, into an elevated park that will include “outdoor performance spaces, playgrounds, fruit orchards, classrooms to teach students about river systems and even kayaks and paddle boats” according to THEARC, a partner in the venture along with the DC government. Individuals generously contributed to 11th Street Bridge’s end of year campaign. In addition to the many $25, $50, $100, $250 & $500 donations, the group received their first major gift of $50,000. In addition, the organizers submitted a $48,600 grant to the Meyer Foundation to help implement a Health Impact Assessment on the project.

11th Street Ward 8 Bridge Park Public Meeting

The 11th Street Bridge Park organizers have

been invited to speak at the Ward 8 Transportation Task Force meeting on Tuesday, February 12 at 6 p.m. to discuss the 11th Street Bridge Park. Supporters are encouraged to attend the meeting and let Councilmember Barry’s staff know that Ward 8 residents are excited about the Bridge Park. The meeting will be held at Council Member Barry’s SE Office located at 2100 MLK Jr. Avenue SE in the third Floor Conference Room.

Save the Date

On Thursday, February 21, the District Architecture Center will host an evening panel discussion on transforming infrastructure into new civic spaces. The Bridge Park organizers will be joined by representatives from Dupont Underground and Philadelphia’s VIADUCTgreene (turning a stretch of the Reading Railroad into an elevated park.) The program will run from 6:30 - 8 pm at 421 7th Street NW, DC.

Night view from MLK Jr Ave in Anacostia looking toward the bridge. Illustration Courtesy Ed Estes

36 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| February 2013

Stitching the Bridge Park into the Community

Graduate students at Virginia Tech’s Urban Design Program are working on ways to deeply stitch the Bridge Park into the surrounding communities. Students will offer suggestions for “wayfinding,” multi-modal transit and signage. Classes started this week and will run through May. Website: The 11th Street Bridge Project is now online. Visit their site at http://www.thearcdc. org/partners-programs/partners/11th-streetbridge-park

Catalyst Projects Panel Discussion on Miami Art Fairs at the HIVE 2.0

Over 50 people braved a cold drizzle on January 14 to attend a lively panel discussion on art fairs at the HIVE 2.0. The panel discussion, titled : Miami Art Fairs – Real Deal or Hype? First-Hand Perspectives from Experts and Newcomers,” provided

and get ten guests, or see 4,000 people in one day,” she told the audience. The five panelists were all pleased at the number of DC-based artists they saw exhibiting and attending throughout the weekend in Miami. It was wryly noted at several points during the hour that though DC has a large number of wealthy patrons and a well-developed network of curators and arts professionals, DC-based art buyers tend to overlook local talent and venues in favor of travelling to larger art “hubs” and national fairs for their acquisitions. Tate noted though that this dynamic is slowly shifting, which ultimately is good news for our community.

East of the River Distinguished Artist Award

BK ADAMS accepting his award at Honfleur Gallery

an eye-on-the-ground view of what it was like to participate at Art Basel Miami this past December. The discussion was the first public event for the newly formed Catalyst Projects, a Capitol Hill based artist-run group whose mission is to support a thriving DC art community. The panel included Lenny Campello, Tim Tate, Sean Hennessey, Shaunte Gates and Adah Rose Bitterbaum and was moderated by Catalyst co-founder Zofie Lang. In her opening comments, Lang gave the audience a quick primer on Art Basel Miami, noting that the annual fair has become a conglomeration of several art fairs with Art Basel Miami at its epicenter. Founded in 1970 in Basel, Switzerland, Art Basel expanded to Miami in 2002 and

will open an inaugural exhibition this year in Hong Kong. In just a decade, the umbrella of Art Basel Miami has expanded to include over 23 satellite fairs in venues (mainly hotels) adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention center (the host location for ABM). Panelists participated in three of these satellite fairs. Given the logistics and costs, a gallery owner’s decision to show at an art fair is not taken lightly. Bitterbaum described the research she undertook to decide which fair suited best suited her needs as a first-time vendor. She contacted ten galleries in New York and Los Angeles and the feedback she received was that Pulse Miami would best suit her needs. For Bitterbaum, the cost and work to attend the show were worth it. “I can sit in my gallery for a month

Presented by Honfleur Gallery with funding from the Gautier Family, the second-annual East of the River Distinguished Artist Award recognizes a current East of the Anacostia River artist for artistic excellence as well as significant impact on the DC cultural life. One EOR artist is honored with this $5,000 award each year. Applications for the 2013 East of the River Distinguished Artist Award are now available on the Honfleur Gallery website (www.honfleurgallery.com)or can be picked up at the following locations: Honfleur Gallery (1241 Good Hope Rd. SE), The HIVE (2027 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE) , and The HIVE 2.0 (1231 Good Hope Rd. SE). The first recipient of the East of the River Distinguished Artist Award was Congress Heights resident and visual artist BK ADAMS*I AM ART. He and his family donated the $5,000 award to a maternity hospital in Kenya. Artists who currently live in East of the Anacostia River neighborhoods

in all disciplines--including dance, film, literature, music, theater, photography and visual arts--whose careers have made a substantial impact on the arts in the District of Columbia may apply. Application must include at least two pieces of work that have been completed or are in progress from the current year of application. Applications for the 2013 East of the River Distinguished Artist Award are due Friday June 7, 2013.

Anacostia Playhouse Update Calls for Arts Professionals

The Anacostia Playhouse is developing a database of local arts professionals with a focus on residents East of the River. As the venue’s opening approaches, The Anacostia Playhouse will be looking to fill a variety of contract positions. Some of these positions may include a Technical Director, a House Manager, Performing Arts Instructors and Design Instructors (e.g., set design or costume design). If you are an arts professional who resides East of the River and are interested in being contacted about future employment opportunities at the Anacostia Playhouse, please send your resume and a cover letter to Julia Robey Christian, Managing Director at julia@anacostiaplayhouse.com or mail a hard copy to 2020 Shannon Place, SE Washington, DC 20020. Phil Hutinet is the Chief Operating Officer at ARCH Development Corporation (ADC). ADC is a twenty year old 501[c][3] not-for-profit community based organization founded on the belief that arts and the creative economy can be employed as part of a comprehensive, synergistic approach to community revitalization in the Anacostia community of Washington, DC. Visit them online at www.archdevelopment.org u EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM H 37

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE

“It’s Our River”

Exhibit at the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum Examines Urban Rivers in Crisis, Including the Anacostia

t’s been called Washington’s forgotten river – for a reason. Years of neglect and abuse left the Anacostia River polluted and unhealthy. Since opening last fall, “Reclaiming the Edge: Urban Waterways and Civic Engagement” at the Anacostia Community Museum (ACM) explores the history surrounding the Anacostia and features community and government efforts to restore this and other urban waterways around the world. The exhibit is the first under ACM’s new expanded mission, focusing on universal issues affecting urban communities.

By Charnice A. Milton history at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, who is known for his work regarding Chesapeake Bay affairs. His book gives an environmental view of the Anacostia’s history. As co-curator for the exhibit, Wennersten has brought the issue of water conservation to a broader audience. “This museum has a long-standing

After famed explorer John Smith sailed the river, then known as the Eastern Branch of the Potomac, the Anacostia became a major trading area for fish, beaver, and tobacco. However, between 1871 and 1873 the city government identified the Anacostia as a sewage conduit. By the end of World War II the river

Worldwide Views

Although the exhibit focuses mainly on restoration efforts in DC, it also shows similar efforts around the world. One such project, the upcoming Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, located near the Thames in East London, has a connection to the Anacostia: Andrew Altman, CEO of the now-defunct Anacostia Waterfront Corporation, served as CEO of the London Legacy Development Corporation, responsible for the project.

About the Curators

“Reclaiming the Edge” is the product of a two-year study developed by historian-journalist John Wennersten and ACM senior historian Gail Lowe. When Lowe looked for ideas for new exhibits, she asked the community for suggestions. “We asked, What are some of the issues urban communities face? Clearly in DC, we wanted to see what’s happening to our water.” During community discussions many people talked about ways to improve the river, from cleanup efforts to development projects. “There are a lot of people who are involved,” Lowe stated. “Even those not connected physically to the river wanted to do something.” While doing initial research, Lowe came across Wennersten’s 2008 book, “Anacostia: The Death and Birth of An American River.” Wennersten is a Capitol Hill resident and emeritus professor of American 38 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

By 1993 American Rivers named the Anacostia the fourth most endangered river in North America. As a result, the city government began to make changes to revive the river and its surrounding communities. For instance, in 2008 Nationals Park opened as the first LEED-certified green stadium for a professional sports team. Two years later the city passed the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Act (aka the DC Bag Tax) to raise money for river cleanup.

Members of the DC Mariners and Oyster Harbor Boat Club prepare for the Howard University Homecoming Capitol Classic. Throughout the years residents have used the Anacostia River for various recreational purposes. Photo: George W. Stewart

commitment to the community,” he said. “This exhibit will bring the issue closer to this community.”

Anacostia’s History

The Anacostia River was once home to the Nacotchtank, a tribe of coastal-living Native Americans. | February 2013

had also become a social barrier, as more African-Americans moved to what was considered “substandard housing” east of the river. When the first section of I-295 (Anacostia Freeway) opened in 1964, it further disconnected residents from the river and each other.

Inspiration and Memories

“Reclaiming the Edge” also includes 16 pieces of river-inspired art, such as local photographer Bruce McNeil’s stylized photo essay reflecting on the Anacostia’s history, and selections from Chinese artist Zhang Jian-Jun’s 36-panel work, “River.” Wennersten’s favorite piece is “Talking Trash,” a mobile created by Smithsonian interns, featuring a school of fish made up of recycled bottles. “This was a great way to

CHANGING HANDS

Changing hands is a list of most residential sales in the District of Columbia from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms.

In an image from “Reclaiming the Edge: Urban Waterways and Civic Engagement” Gary Hedgepath, a lifelong Anacostia resident, feeds seagulls in Anacostia Park. Photo: Susana Raab, Anacostia Community Museum

bring the interns into the conversation,” Wennersten said. “It’s really creative.” The exhibit also includes “River Stories,” a video series spotlighting local residents and their connections to the Anacostia. One features falconer and environmentalist Rodney Stotts, a former drug dealer, who credits his work cleaning up the Anacostia and other urban waterways with helping him turn from crime. “We had people in our neighborhoods where we were trying to clean who would ask us, ‘Why are you here? Do you really think it will make a difference?’” says Stotts in the video. “We wanted everyone to see that if you wanted change, you have to make change.”

Why It Matters

Both curators see “Reclaiming the Edge” as a call to action. “The health of urban rivers is an indication of the health of the city surrounding them,” said Lowe. “Water is non-redeemable, so we have to care for each drop.” To emphasize this point, a section entitled “You Have an Impact” displays three shopping carts as the type of refuse found in the Anacostia, and highlights what visitors can do help curb the flow of pollutants. Another benefit: connecting both sides of the city. “In the past, rivers were seen as a natural barrier,” said Wennersten. “But shutting them down cuts people off

from the natural and from each other.” Recent years have seen more interest in using the river to connect both sides of the city, such as the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail currently under construction. Also, ACM will be holding events and discussions related to the exhibit. “The psychological disconnection is hard to overcome,” said Wennersten, “but when people come together, it’s a glorious thing.”

Moving Forward

Although “Reclaiming the Edge” is on view until September 15, the research is ongoing. In fact, the exhibit was the inspiration for “Urban Waterways” an interdisciplinary project that won a 2011 grant from the Smithsonian. Wennersten and Lowe are proud of the audience feedback. “People have come in a little quizzical; however, they left with a new sense of connection,” said Lowe. The exhibit’s overarching theme, “It’s Our River,” is a reminder about how every visitor is connected to the Anacostia. “Everyone stated that they enjoyed the experience,” said Lowe, “but they left with a new sense of responsibility.” The Anacostia Community Museum is located at 1901 Fort Place SE, Washington, DC 20020. Open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily except December 25. For more information, visit anacostia.si.edu. u

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KIDS & FAMILY

Discover Engineering Family Day at the National Building Museum

On Feb 16, 10 a.,m.-4:30 p.m., the National Building Museum and the National Engineers Week Foundation invite you to debunk the myths of engineering and discover how professional engineers turn an idea into reality. Celebrate National Engineers Week by participating in this free, hands-on, and fun-filled festival. This is a free, drop-in program. $5 donation suggested. Program and activities are most appropriate for children ages 5-13 with adult supervision. Registration is not required. National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. 202-272.2448. nbm.org Students compete in LEGO robotics event at Discover Engineering Family Day. Photo: Kevin Allen

Kids & Family Notebook by Kathleen Donner

Smithsonian Associates Discovery Theater on Tour: How Old is a Hero?

Explore the power of youth and meet three courageous heroes who helped shape history during the civil rights movement. In a captivating live theater performance, you’ll hear the compelling experiences of: Ernest Green, the first black student to graduate from an integrated high school; Claudette Colvin who, months before Rosa Parks, also refused to give up her seat on the bus; and Ruby Bridges, who was only six in 1960 when she stepped into first grade--and into history -- as the first student chosen to desegregate an all-white school in New Orleans. Question/answer session following the performance. For ages 5-13. Feb 12, 3:30 p.m., Capitol View Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE. 202645-0755. dclibrary.org/capitolview This event repeats on Feb 19, 10 a.m. at Francis A. Gregory Library; Feb 20, 10:30 a.m. at Anacostia Library; and Feb 20, 1:15 p.m. at Dorothy I. Height/Benning Library.

2013 Summer Youth Employment Program Announced

Mayor Gray and the DC Department of Employment Services have announced that the ap40 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| February 2013

plication process for the District’s 2013 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) has opened. The program will provide six weeks of meaningful employment and work-readiness training to District youth this summer. The online application for the 2013 SYEP is available to District residents between the ages of 14 and 21 at summerjobs.dc.gov.

Community Literacy Day Held at Smothers Elementary School

In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, the Ward 7 Education Council worked with Georgetown University to hold a Community Literacy Day at Smothers Elementary School. Smothers was one of five sites that Georgetown students and community volunteers deployed to on Jan 19. This event was selected an official part of the Presidential Inaugural Day of Service. Over 100 children and families from across Ward 7 came out to enjoy read-alouds, board games, arts and crafts, popcorn, cotton candy, and a lot of fun. Many of the volunteers played some of their favorite games from childhood, and many of the children were introduced to some new favorites. The Ward 7 Education Council meets every fourth Thursday of the month and is committed to supporting the children and schools in Ward 7. If

you’d like to get involved, email ward7ed@yahoo.com.

Science Fair Help and Movie Night at Capital View Library

Looking for ideas for a Science Fair Project? On Feb 13, 6:30 p.m., drop by our Science Fair Project Help Night to get a few tips and enjoy a movie from the Disney Presents Bill Nye the Science Guy TV series. The hour-long session will include demonstrations of simple science experiments, discussions on how to set up a project and suggestions on how to use library resources to complete a project. Enjoy a short movie on science topics, and get to know other students from the neighborhood that are working on projects. Capitol View Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE. 202-645-0755. dclibrary.org/ capitolview

“TRUANCY: A Crisis in DC Public Schools” Panel Discussion

On Saturday, Feb 23, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Anne Beers Elementary School, 3600 Alabama Ave. SE, join a panel of experts to discuss school truancy in a forum where parents will learn the new truancy guidelines for DCPS. To be discussed are the fact that 20% of DC students are truant (5 times the national average), that K-8 had at least 10% of DCPS students miss more than a month of school in 2011 and that DC school system’s overall graduation rate is only 56%. The panelists are Adele Fabrikant, Deputy Chief, Office of Youth Engagement, DC Public Schools; Eshauna Smith, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education; Jeffrey Brown, Counselor, Anne Beers Elementary School; Dane Jefferson, Assistant Principal, Randle Highlands Elementary School; Tamika Williams, Parent, Anne Beers Elementary School; Matrina Matthews,

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KIDS & FAMILY PTA President, Randle Highlands Elementary School; and The Honorable Zoe Bush, Judge, DC Superior Court. The moderator is De’Andre Anderson, HCCA Chair, Education & Recreation.

Registration for DPR Summer Camp Begins

The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) announces its summer camp registration, dates and information for the 2013 Summer Camp season. For Summer 2013, DPR will offer a new rolling registration period through Thursday, Feb 14 for District residents. Open Registration for non-District residents will open on Monday, Mar 4, at 10 a.m. During the rolling registration period, a specific group of camp sites will open for online registration each day at 10 a.m. Once the online registration is open for a particular camp, the registration will remain open until all the camp spaces are filled. Please make note of the registration dates for the camp (or camps) of your choice to ensure

that online registration is initiated on the correct date. Registration can be completed online or in person at the DPR summer camps office located at Columbia Heights Recreation Center, 1480 Girard St. NW 4th floor. Space fills on a first-come, first-serve basis and enrollment is subject to availability. It is recommended that parents create an online DPR account for all campers in the DPR registration system prior to the registration period, in order to be best prepared. DPR’s summer camp will consist of four, two-week camp sessions starting on June 24 and ending on Aug 16. Most camps will operate Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. with before-care from 8-9 a.m. and after-care from 5-6 p.m. There is an additional charge for before- and after-care. Select DPR camp sites will offer the Free Summer Meals Program. Children attending camps that do not offer the free summer meals program must bring their own lunch and snacks. DPR does not maintain waiting lists for summer camps. Additional information can be found

at summercamps.dc.gov or by contacting the Summer Camps office at 202-671-0372. The Summer Camps office is open Monday-Tuesday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Wednesday-Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Story Time at Anacostia Public Library

Anacostia Community Museum and the Anacostia Neighborhood Library are collaborators on this “Story Time” series. On Saturdays, Feb 23 and Mar 2, 10:30 a.m.-noon, parents can bring their kids for a wonderful Saturday morning. Following the reading of a book by a celebrity, each child will create an art take-away. For more information, call 202-6334844. Anacostia Public Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE

2013 D.C. United Training Program Open for Registration

The 2013 D.C. United Training Program is open for registration and the winter session is just around the corner, starting on Sunday, Feb 3. The Training Program, which is available

Mardi Gras Family Day at Anacostia Community Museum

Can’t make it to Mardi Gras in New Orleans? No worries. On Feb 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., come celebrate it at the Anacostia Community Museum in a day of exciting activities including entertainment, arts and crafts, face painting, balloon art, dancing, and costume contests. When you walk through the museum doors don’t forget to sign up for the Adornment Workshop with Januwa Moja-Nelson who will dress you up in wonderful raiment for a free keepsake photo to take with you to remember this fun-filled day for the whole family. Whatever your age is, there is sure to be something to interest you at the Mardi Gras Family Day. This event is free and open to the public. For more information call 202-633-4875 or email ACMinfo@si.edu. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu Danielle Nicole Hall and her son Aaron Malachi Hall at the Anacostia Community Museum’s Mardi Gras Family Day event last year. The 2013 event is themed “RiverFest” referring to the exhibition on view “Reclaiming The Edge: Urban Waterways and Civic Engagement” and it features river-inspired music, crafts, and storytelling plus dress- up and more. RSVP at 202.633.4875 or acminfo@si.edu. Photo: Jenelle Cooper Tolson

42 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| February 2013

to the 9-11 and 12-13 age groups, presents a key opportunity for participants to be identified and scouted for United’s Pre-Academy squads and the recently introduced age 14 Academy Team. Commencing in the fall of this year, the 13-14 division of the U.S Soccer Development Academy will consist of current Academy clubs and select sides from outside the current Academy structure. The adoption of the new model will bolster the level of competitiveness of United’s Academy, which has already produced Homegrown talents such as First-Team starters Bill Hamid and Andy Najar. The Training Program will be conducted during the winter, spring, summer and fall and each session will feature six two-hour long practices over six different weekends. Players will train like D.C. United’s Academy and First Team players at the RFK Stadium Complex, and this elite program will feature a competitive environment with a focus on individual technique and tactical understanding. Program participants will also receive a ticket voucher to a D.C. United home game. To select a program, click korrio.com/groups/dc-united/programs. If you have any further questions or need assistance, contact Program Manager Mikael Tigrett at 202-587-5468.

OCTO Launches DCPS High Schiool Online Application

The District Office of the Chief Technology Officer has announced the recent launch of a new webbased High School Online Application (HSOA) system for DC Public Schools (DCPS). HSOA allows incoming high school students to apply to one or more of the six specialized high schools by completing a single online application, ranking each selected school in the order of preference. A specialized high school is a school with no boundaries that has specific admission requirements and selection criteria. Specialized schools include Banneker Senior High School; Columbia Heights Education Campus (CHEC); Duke Ellington School of the Arts;

McKinley Technology High School; Phelps Architecture, Construction, and Engineering High School and; School Without Walls Senior High School (SWW). For current DCPS students, HSOA communicates with DC STARS to retrieve and pre-fill student data (name, address, school, latest report card, etc.), making the application process faster and more efficient. Each specialized school has its own unique admission requirements, and based on the school selections made by the student the system displays the appropriate questionnaire. Applicants can access their submitted application at any time, modify school rankings, view the status of recommendation letters, and learn their final acceptance results. To learn more about HSOA, visit hsca.dcps.dc.gov.

Options Student Wins Capitol Hill Spelling Bee

Options Public Charter School student Julien Ingram became this year’s Capitol Hill Spelling Champ by correctly spelling “homogeneous” in a competition that had 32 contestants (6th through 12th grade) and lasted 13 rounds. Mya Ballad, a very talented 6th grader at Options, was the runner-up. Since 1996, Options has served as a model for effectively including and educating youth who have failed in traditional learning environments (particularly low-income, African American males). With a general education and full-time therapeutic transition and socialization program, Options offers alternative programs, which motivate students to stay in school by giving them the requisite social skills to increase their self-esteem, effectively manage anger and frustration, and achieve academic excellence. optionsschool.org. u EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM H 43

KIDS & FAMILY

High School and “More” Hospitality High School Prepares DCers for Careers

Evelyn Richardson was a student leader at Hospitality High School and discovered a career there.

44 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

by Stephen Lilienthal

velyn Richardson knew many DC highschoolers who were learning math and English. But she thought there might be more to education. She entered Hospitality High School (HHS) after starting her sophomore year, switching due to her mother’s concerns about “distractions” surrounding the neighborhood of her charter school. Fortunately, HHS provided a striking change. Soon Richardson was really learning “more.”

Statistics back up her assertion. HHS’s 2011-12 annual report shows its graduation rate for the 2012 senior class was 90 percent. Eighty percent of seniors took the SAT in the 2011-12 school year, and their average score was 1025. Every HHS student applying to college in 2012 was accepted. Not all students enrolled in HHS finish it, but those students willing to take advantage of the school’s offerings can expect good opportunities.

McEducation or a Million Dollar Opportunity?

Something “Clicked”

A partnership between the Hotel Association of Washington, DC, and the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington helped lead to creation of HHS. Aware that the new Walter E. Washington Convention Center would spark the need for more skilled managers in hospitality and culinary arts, the association proposed that DC Public Schools increase its programming in those areas. DCPS gave the idea the cold shoulder, causing the associations to develop a charter school. The Marriott Foundation was a strong initial financial supporter, but now funding includes generous support from hotel chains, restaurants, associations, and foundations. Not all extended a warm welcome. A listserv posting in 2001 derided HHS as “McEducation” training for students to become “happy waitresses and doormen.” HHS students, however, are receiving solid opportunities. A 2011 Pew Research Center study, using U.S. Census data, showed the average adult with a bachelor’s degree would earn an additional $1.4 million over a 40-year career, beyond what the average high school student would earn during the same span. Even subtracting college expenses means the average college graduate nets $550,000 more in earnings than the average high school graduate. Sandra Carter, HHS’s guidance counselor, insists, “Our goal is to send students to college.”

| February 2013

Richardson is a case in point. Soon after arriving at HHS, she was making friends. “I was introduced in a class of 15 people. Soon I had 30 friends,” she recalls. Small size helps HHS foster a friendly environment, and teachers pride themselves on being accessible and willing to extend help when students request it. Richardson discovered a career suited to her personality because she likes “going that extra mile for people.” Richardson once dreamed of becoming a lawyer or working in criminal justice, but at HHS she saw her outgoing personality “clicked with everything I was learning” about the hospitality industry.

The “More”

As for “the more” she was learning, Richardson insists, “One of the best parts of the school is that it takes us out of the classroom and we go to hotels. It’s better to see them and how they work than just read about it in a book.” All students and staff spend a day in February participating in Groundhog Job Shadowing Day, when they follow hotel and restaurant personnel as they do their jobs, whether they be in accounting, human resources, management, engineering, housekeeping, communications, catering, reservations, or front desk services. HHS provides students with guest speakers from the industry and an in-house career fair. Stu-

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THE DANCE INSTITUTE OF WASHINGTON

HOSTS A SPECIAL WINTER

OPEN HOUSE

“Fall in Love with Dance” March 2nd, 3 – 7 p.m. March 3rd, 3 – 5:30 p.m. “Dance Like No One Is Watching” - Mark Twain In commemoration of the Dance Institute’s 25th Anniversary, this Open House is an open invitation from the students and teachers of DIW to participants of all ages, from children to adults and senior citizens, to come and discover what the buzz is all about. “Fall in Love with Dance” will offer free sample dance classes, mini performance exhibitions, dance program auditions, and a fun registration drive for DIW’s 2013 Summer Programs.

202.371.9656 www.danceinstitutewa.org 3400 14th Street, NW in Columbia Heights eaSTOFTHerIVerDCNeWS.COM H 45

dents are also required to obtain industry certifications. Richardson views junior year to have been special because she participated in sports and student government, but she also took a hospitality marketing class. “The teacher made the class fun. It gave me the ability to motivate people to get them to buy.” That summer, Richardson worked a paid internship at the Embassy Suites hotel near the convention center, first as a server at its Finn & Porter restaurant, then as a front desk agent. Richardson spent her senior year working part-time for Embassy Suites, balancing her work with studies and playing basketball for HHS. She enjoyed the hospitality law class taught by Michael Cucciardo, hospitality administrator at HHS, which covers topics such as liability, safety, and contracts.

Professionalism by Example

When visiting executives come to HHS, they see student work portfolios and often ask students about their school attendance and grades. “That will draw the connection between what you do in school and how it reflects to the outside world. Suddenly, kids become more responsible and dependable and see that [attendance and grades] matter,” says Tiffany Godbout Williams, HHS’s executive director. Learning is tied to the objectives and standards professionals must meet in the workplace. Michael Cucciardo, hospitality administrator, is proud that HHS is a member of the National Academy Foundation, which “provides a project-based curriculum focused on literacy and job skills development in and out of the classroom.” As graduation draws near, Carter’s senior seminar acquaints students with important aspects of the application process. Students visit hospitality programs at colleges and universities. Partnerships have been forged between HHS and hospitality programs at institutions including Cornell University and Michigan State University.

46 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| February 2013

Life after HHS

As for her own college plans, Richardson credits Carter with providing nudges to make sure she applied for scholarships, of which she won several. HHS helped show her that she prefers a smaller school environment so she chose to attend Tuskegee University. “It’s not high school all over again but you can talk to the teacher as opposed to being just one person in a class of 100,” she explains. Playing it smart, Ms. Richardson has a double major in hospitality and finance. She worked last summer as an intern at the Mayflower Renaissance Washington, DC, Hotel, in the food and beverage division, helping to chart the day’s proceeds and spending by customers. Richardson graduates from Tuskegee this spring and feels confident about her job prospects.

Professional Mindset

Many students arrive at HHS with standardized test scores that are below grade level. That presents a challenge for any school. HHS had the highest growth throughout the city in math and reading on the DC-CAS Comprehensive Assessment System for 2011, only to see those gains dissolve on last year’s results. HHS is redoubling its efforts, hiring a data accountability specialist to encourage students and instructors to use test data to increase achievement. Carter encourages students interested those fields to double major in finance, marketing, or management. Even if students choose a different course of study, says Carter, the professional mindset HHS imparts to its students can be useful for whatever career alumni want to enter. Stephen Lilienthal is a freelance writer living in Washington, DC. More information about Hospitality High School can be found at washingtonhospitality.org/ u

OPEN HOUSE Monday February 25th 9am - 10:30am ABOUT US: •

Founded in the fall of 1999

•

Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

•

Pre-school – 5th Grade

•

Independently run with a strong Board of Trustees

•

Challenging Curriculum

•

Exciting Creative Arts and Technology Program

•

Positive school culture

•

Open to all DC Residents

Open Enrollment for Preschool – 5th Grade February 1st-March 15th (All DC residents) 5300 Blaine Street, NE Washington, DC 20019 202-398-6811

Please visit us at www.artstechacademy.org

Sunday, March 3 4:00pm - 5:00pm THEARC (1901 Mississippi Ave, SE)

No tickets are required Come see the passion and talent of some of the DC area’s most gifted young musicians when DC Youth Orchestra Program’s top ensemble - the Youth Orchestra - returns to THEARC. Bring the family early to see, hear, touch, and try out instruments in the instrument “petting zoo.” Experience the instruments up close from 2:30 to 3:30.

www.dcyop.org eaSTOFTHerIVerDCNeWS.COM H 47

KIDS & FAMILY

Friendship Collegiate Academy Students Win Posse Foundation Scholarships

by John Muller

ost in the static over school closings and accusations of cheating scandals are unsung young adults who tirelessly work their pencils to a nub every day no matter the political, personal, and social gridlock that encircles their teenage lives. Three high school seniors at Friendship Collegiate Academy on Minnesota Avenue NE have cut through the whirlwind. By keeping their noses to the grindstone in and out of the classroom Phillip Pride, Kirk Murphy, and Kendra Spruill have received merit-based full-tuition college scholarships from the Posse Foundation.

Founded in 1989, the Posse Foundation has identified, recruited, and trained more than 4,000 students, upwards of 400 from the Washington metropolitan area, to join groups of 10 students who support each other as they attend the same university together. To ease the transition before going off to college and while there, Posse recipients attend weekly meetings that provide shared understanding, encouragement, and support. Before receiving their scholarships these three students from Friendship Collegiate Academy had already leaned on and challenged each other to ex-

cel, a testament to the caliber of young men and women the school is producing and sending out into the world.

Phillip Pride

Phillip Pride, who lives in Fairlawn, was attending the National High School Gaming Academy’s pre-college summer program at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, when he met a national network of gamers, those who specialize in roleplaying or war-themed video games. For Phillip there was no better place to be. The program introduces students to the industry of video game development through classroom lectures and creative instruction while giving guidance toward starting a career in the video game industry. Phillip plans to study computer science at Sewanee University of the South in the mountains of Tennessee. “My future goals are to work as a game programmer for a large private company and eventually start my own company.” An avid reader of PC Magazine, Phillip maintains a 4.0 grade point average and prefers role-playing games over sports games unlike his friend, fellow Friendship Collegiate senior Kirk Murphy. On Xbox they compete against each other nearly every evening. Most appropriately it was through Xbox that Phillip and Kirk learned they had each received Posse scholarships to attend Sewanee, a top-ranked liberal arts college.

Kirk Murphy

(Left to right) Phillip Pride, Kendra Spruill, and Kirk Murphy

48 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| February 2013

Growing up in Congress Heights, Kirk Murphy saw the dangers of abandoning an education. Kirk experienced a separation of wills between him and many of his friends after graduating Charles Hart Middle School on Mississippi Avenue SE. “The path they’re taking is not good. Over the years we’ve gone in different paths,” says Kirk, who played on special teams for the school’s powerhouse football team and runs track year round.

Last summer Kirk got a taste of campus life in a college preparatory program at Boston University. Academic achievement is increasingly becoming a family affair for Kirk. His older sister, Kiana, graduated from Friendship Collegiate in 2011 and earned not only a Posse Scholarship to the University of Wisconsin at Madison, but also a Gates Millennium Scholarship, which provides for her through her PhD studies. After compiling a 3.6 grade point average, Kirk plans to study business management or computer science.

Kendra Spruill

Since coming to Friendship Collegiate Academy as a sophomore, Kendra Spruill has been active in student government, currently serving as the school’s mayor. She has also coordinated service projects in the community, run track in the winter and spring, and accumulated a 3.9 grade point average. In the fall she plans to study psychology at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, with the support of the Posse Foundation. “I was very excited and almost shocked because there were so many other students that should have gotten the scholarship too, and yet they chose me,” says Kendra. The second oldest in her family, Kendra says she is looking forward to making new personal and professional discoveries that the independence of college life promises. Kendra says, “High school let me know that hard work does pay, and with the support of Posse you continue that hard work together.”

Posse Foundation & Friendship Collegiate Academy

In short questionnaires I sent the students before our interview they all mentioned the importance of Dr. Arsallah Shairzay, Dean of Early College and Director of the Advanced Placement Program

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OPEN HOUSE: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH Now accepting registrations for next school year!

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Options Public Charter Schools 1375 E Street NE Washington DC 20002 P: 202 547 1028 F: 202 547 1272 Office hours: M-F 8:00am – 4:00pm

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Come meet our teacher, Ms Frances, and see why your 3 year old (by 12/31/13) will love this school!

OPEN HOUSE

at Watkins Elementary School, 420 12th Street SE, Classroom 109. Tuesday, February 12, 2013, 6:00pm – 7:30p Wednesday, February 20, 2013, 9:00am - 11:00am

WWW.CHCNS.US EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM H 49

Do you want your child to... Receive a COLLEGE PREP education? Learn from CARING teachers? Enjoy HIGH-TECH classrooms in a SAFE environment? Select from Technology, Art, Music, Journalism and other ELECTIVES? Participate in ATHLETICS and AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS? Attend the same school as their SIBLINGS?

They can – at Perry Street Prep! Our Lower School serves PreK (age 3) – Grade 8 Our Upper School serves Grades 9-12

CALL US FOR A TOUR: 202.551.0823 or ATTEND AN INFO SESSION: Wed. Feb. 6, 13 and 27 and Mar. 13 or Sat. Feb. 23, Mar. 16 • We are free to all DC residents. • We open with a free breakfast at 7:15 a.m. • Free Shuttle to Metro station at 4:00 p.m.

50 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| February 2013

for Friendship Collegiate since 2004, in guiding them through the application process. Friendship Collegiate’s Posse scholars benefited from the school’s policy of encouraging students to take advanced placement courses in subjects such as psychology, human geography, computer science, world history, and U.S. government to better prepare them for college. More than 2,500 students have taken these classes since 2004. According to Dr. Shairzay nominations to Posse DC scholarships are open to all public and private high schools in the metropolitan area, including those in the District, Maryland, and Virginia. This year more than 1,600 students were nominated. “I have been nominating students for the Posse Foundation scholarships since 2006, and a total of 24 Friendship Collegiate Academy students have won this merit-based scholarship,” says Dr. Sharizay. “Every year I invite some of our former Posse Scholars to Collegiate Academy to talk about their college experiences. These meetings have been helpful in encouraging current students to do well in high school and providing them with information about the Posse colleges and universities that students may consider.” In the hallways of Friendship Collegiate, on my way to interview the latest Posse recipients, a handful of students greeted Dr. Shairzay and also extended a professional handshake in my direction. From the business manners of its students to the trophy case of an emerging athletic powerhouse, Friendship Collegiate Academy, a public charter school, compares well with the Washington area’s most prominent private schools. If you ask Phillip, Kirk, and Kendra they will tell you a scholarship from the Posse Foundation is not the end of their education, but the beginning. u

Enc Empowouraging e Imaginrment and a Safe ation in an Enviro d Caring For Chnment ild Ages 3 ren -9

From June 24 - August 16, 2013 Enjoy performances, trips, picnics in the park, water play (3-5 yo), swimming (6-9 yo), Older children... will have morning special focus camps like 2 week sessions of science, exploring our city, etc. special trips and afternoon fun camp.

Flexible Scheduling: ages 3-5: ages 6-9:

Weekly $315 $345

Whole Day $63 $69

Sibling Discount - 25% OFF Early Bird Discount 5% OFF

Half Day $41 $46

Drop In $66 $71

(any week of camp paid in full by 5/10/13)

Contact us at: 240-396-8957 ask for VanNessa (VanNessa Duckett). PO Box 31215, Washington, DC 20030 politepiggysdaycamp.com politepiggysdaycamp@yahoo.com eaSTOFTHerIVerDCNeWS.COM H 51

To place a classified in East of the River, please call Carolina at Capital Community News, Inc. 202.543.8300 x12 or email Carolina@hillrag.com

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eaSTOFTHerIVerDCNeWS.COM H 53

THE NOSE

by Anonymous

ear Readers, can you tell The Nose the significance of the numbers: $140 million, $58 million, $240 million and $417 million? The Nose knows you can. Yes, they are the DC budget surpluses of the last four years celebrated by Natwar “Not That” Gandhi, Mayor Vincent “Can’t Find His Shadow” Gray and the members of our highly esteemed DC Council. Budgeting is an arcane science perhaps best left to more mathematical individuals than yours truly. At its root, it involves making a predication of future revenue and then matching expenditures to that estimate; a simple matter of arithmetic rather than calculus. One might excuse one underestimate due to the unexpected windfall from the taxation of a large estate; or a few million more generated by traffic cameras. However, when Gandhi repeatedly underestimates future revenues, it is obvious, at least to this poor scribbler, this is the result of a deliberate strategy. Here is how it works. • The CFO (Creative Fiscal Obscurest) significantly underestimates coming

year’s fiscal revenues; The Mayor and DC Council cut programs in an annual bloody ritual largely driven by deficit panic; • At year’s end, there is a major surplus; and Councilmembers proclaim a budgetary Christmas; • The Mayor insists the surplus be added to the rainy day fund; • Patting himself fulsomely on the back, our sainted CFO touts the growth of the fund to Wall Street and the public as evidence of his prudent management. What is the end result of this senseless charade in fictive budgeting you may ask? Cuts to the very programs that make the District a decent place to live. Gandhi’s games also prompt the Council to throw the District’s less fortunate citizens under the bus. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me,” goes the famous Chinese proverb. Dear Readers, we have now been fooled FOUR times! Perhaps they did not have School House Rock in India when Natwar was coming up. Here is a version certain to appeal to DC Councilmembers: •

417 is a magic number. Yes it is, it’s a magic number. Somewhere in the ancient, mystic, accounting fraternity You get 417 as a magic number. Forget the past and the present and the future! Abandon Faith, Hope, and Charity! Being Heartless, Ruthless and Hardhearted Gives you 417 as a magic number. It takes millions to build a stadium. It takes millions to make a convention hotel stand. It takes millions to win an election. It takes millions to pave bike lanes. To balance a budget requires a million cuts. Every budget cut has a million impacts. No more, no less. You don’t have to guess. When it’s 417 you can see, It’s a magic number. A Mayor and his Council made a city budget, Yes, they did. Then Natwar said, “Cut! Cut! Cut!” And they got 417 as their magic number. Perhaps it is time to send Gandhi to the District’s new community college for a refresher course in Excel. What say you, Dear Readers? Have a comment for The Nose, email thenose@hillrag.com u

54 H EAST OF THE RIVER MAGAZINE

| February 2013