Issuu

2022 ANNUAL REPORT

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION

(UPO Workforce Institute graduation)

FORWARD TOGETHER: Economic Security for All DC Residents

OUR IMPACT 52,569 people served across all generations

PRO-WORK Job Security

612

customers obtained jobs

1,177 national certifications earned

PRO-EDUCATION Largest Early Head Start provider in DC

$100,000 in scholarships awarded in 2022;

$1.5 million total since 1990

PRO-COMMUNITY Food Security

157,184

meals distributed during the pandemic

Financial Security

million

in customer tax refunds secured with UPO’s help

ON THE COVER The UPO Workforce Institute changed the lives of Culinary Arts graduates (l. to r.) Mario Lane, who’s now a cook at Fish & Chips (the Gordon Ramsay restaurant where another UPO graduate works); Denton Malcolm, who is starting a restaurant business; Genethia Robertson; and Nichelle Tucker.

Lifting Advocates’ Voices

225

participants in our Community Leadership Academy

Housing Security

594

customers received rental assistance and their threat of eviction was resolved

CONTENTS 02

From the President/CEO & Board Chair

Our Programs

VISION UPO’s Washington: A city of thriving communities and self-sufficient residents

MISSION Uniting People with Opportunities

UPO’S COMMUNITY ACTION PROMISE Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

CARES Act Expands Our Reach

PRO-EDUCATION Programs Create Opportunity

PRO-WORK Programs Open Doors

PRO-COMMUNITY Programs Transform Lives

Measurable Outcomes

2022 Financial Statement

Funding Sources

Donor Spotlight

Providers & Partners

Where We Serve

What You Can Do

60th Anniversary

COMMUNITY ACTION The United Planning Organization (UPO) is one of our nation’s 1,000+ Community Action Agencies (CAAs) dedicated to fighting poverty by helping people become self-sufficient. Established in 1964 during the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, CAAs serve 99% of the counties in the nation. UPO has always served as the only CAA for Washington, DC’s residents with low incomes, and is one of only 12 agencies to ever win the Agency of Excellence award. 1

FROM THE PRESIDENT/CEO AND BOARD CHAIR How We Move Forward Together District residents who lack economic security understand that the journey to that goal is a marathon, not a sprint. When they reach their goal, everyone who helped them, including UPO’s staff, volunteers, Board members, donors, and partners celebrate the achievement with them. As the pandemic stretched through 2022, the crisis required new levels of discipline, creativity, and compassion to help customers survive and thrive. � With the help of CARES Act funding,

training programs for GED, ESL, and high-demand jobs. � Our Workforce Institute introduced

and refined ideas such as the Construction Trade Workshops where high school students discovered new careers … and then signed up for job training courses at our Building Careers Academy. � We jumpstarted new healthcare

partnerships, adding staff and expanding our reach. � Our Community Leadership

Academy, which aligns with Community Action principles, taught residents how to advocate to improve their neighborhoods.

we distributed $3 million in rental and utility support. � We connected people who needed

mental health support with licensed professional therapists.

Andrea Thomas CEO and President

� We opened a Legislative Advocacy

� We continued our partnerships to

create new affordable housing. � Our Early Learning team re-opened

our centers so that parents could return to work or to our certification

division to tackle the causes and conditions of poverty. Actually, we’re coming full circle: UPO was founded in 1962 to address failed policies by developing new grassroots approaches to economic security.

Jeffrey Page, Esq. Board of Directors Chair

Our next goal is to begin a mental health assessment for our customers so there can be a conversation about their struggles as part of their intake process. Since we try to address the whole person, this will help us pave the right way for each of them to move forward.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS

MEMBERS

Jeffrey Page, Esq. | Chair Designated by Mayor of the District of Columbia

Salim K. Adofo Community Elected by Ward 8b

Joseph Vaughan | Vice Chair Designated by Mayor of the District of Columbia Dr. Mary Ellen Curtin | Secretary Representative of Major Groups & Interests Juan Jara | Treasurer Representative of Major Groups & Interests

Michael Austin, Esq. Designated by Mayor of the District of Columbia Lafayette Barnes Designated by Mayor of the District of Columbia Barbara Bovbjerg Designated by Congresswoman Norton Kevin Chavous, Esq. Community Elected by Ward 7

Donna Grigsby Representative of Major Groups & Interests

Oliver Spurgeon III Community Elected by Ward 8a

Rhonda N. Hamilton Community Elected by Wards 2 & 6

Dr. Christine M. Warnke Community Elected by Wards 1 & 3

Hadiyah M. Muhammad Community Elected by Wards 4 & 5

Robert W. Warren Representative of Major Groups & Interests

Ruthven Phillip, Esq. Representative of Major Groups & Interests

Laura Manville Representative of Major Groups & Interests

Tara Plochocki, Esq. Representative of Major Groups & Interests

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

OUR PROGRAMS How We Help Customers Move Forward We help residents transform their lives: They build knowledge, skills, and other tools to become economically secure. We tailor our assistance to each person’s strengths and needs so they can pave and navigate a path to success.

Office of Early Learning

Community Reinvestment

Community Advocacy

educates and stabilizes children and their families.

helps customers build on and leverage their assets to generate wealth.

changes lives and strengthens communities through direct service and by promoting the voices of community members who lead the transformation of their neighborhoods.

Youth Services drives student success in college and careers through hands-on, project-based STEM enrichments.

Foster Grandparents Program helps children grow through mentoring by senior volunteers.

Family Strengthening empowers staff, customers, and community organizations to build upon their inner strengths to reach their goals.

UPO Workforce Institute develops customers’ skill sets and powers their careers via national certifications. We also place customers in jobs, accelerating the upward trajectory of their careers and increasing their earning power.

Affordable Housing delivers affordable homes and improves housing equity and security.

Community Health Shelter Hotline protects people who are living on the streets; Comprehensive Treatment Center supports health and well-being through education, treatment, and outreach; Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program ensures that customers can keep food on their tables; and Permanent Supportive Housing helps people move from homelessness to stability and self-sufficiency.

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

Community Impact reduces the causes and conditions of poverty through place-based strategies articulated and driven by community residents.

Legislative Advocacy fights for systemic changes by voicing how policy impacts opportunity, and amplifies the power of DC residents to address economic and racial inequities.

CARES ACT Helped People Survive and Thrive As the pandemic took a toll on our beloved city, UPO was needed more than ever. UPO is the designated Community Action Agency for the District’s residents with low incomes, which means that our purpose is to Unite People with Opportunities so they can reach economic security.

Thanks to CARES Act funding, District residents were able to get GED and ESL (English as a Second Language) certificates. During the graduation ceremony, Jasmine (from the story at bottom left) encouraged everyone to continue their education.

Federal funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act enabled UPO to expand our programs and our reach to District residents who earn up to 200% of the federal poverty level. By weaving this funding throughout our programs, we increased the number of families we served and helped them get back on their feet.

SHE DISCOVERED HER FUTURE Gina was unhappy as a contracted security guard. She was grateful to be working but was not fulfilled — she imagined more for her life.

We tailored our approach to each person and family to meet their needs. For some families, that meant supermarket gift cards for groceries. For others, it meant diapers, clothing, toddler beds, and a stroller, or help from our in-house mental health consultant.

Then Gina heard about the UPO job training programs funded by the CARES Act and instantly kicked into gear. She became a powerhouse, earning her national certifications in:

A HOME, A DEGREE, A PATH TO SUCCESS

� Food Handling � Alcohol Service

Jasmine is a dynamo. But even dynamos need help to focus their energy. Jasmine’s children were being nurtured in a UPO Early Head Start center when she realized that she needed help. She was suicidal, needed a home for her family, and aspired to finally get a high school diploma. A Family Engagement Specialist at our Office of Early Learning helped her address each of her issues, step by step. As we helped Jasmine, her determination grew and grew. For example, the day after she had her new baby, she called into class from her hospital bed. She said, “Don’t tell me I can’t go to class!” Her teacher explained

to Jasmine that she already had a passing grade; then Jasmine got off the phone and returned to feeding her baby. The funding for Jasmine’s diploma course came from the CARES Act, which was designed to help people during the COVID pandemic. Jasmine is now a formidable advocate for her family and she is eagerly developing even more skills: “I can be whatever I put my mind to…and I’m still trying to achieve…[Team UPO,] you are so wonderful.” Please watch her riveting video at: www.upo.org/cares

� CPR � Cleaning and Sanitation (in a

program designed for budding entrepreneurs)

“It makes me feel very good about myself because I had trials and tribulations early on, and I was able to turn my life around,” she said. Gina started her own company cleaning people’s homes. She also began working for UPO’s Shelter Hotline as her way of giving back… plus it helps to fund the high-quality equipment she needs to grow her blossoming business. Bravo!

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

anxiety. Many said, “I didn’t know that I needed this, but I really did.”

� We prevented disconnection for 695 households with Emergency Utility Assistance.

� We paid for GED and ESL (English as a Second Language) classes for residents who needed that extra incentive to take the next step in their education.

� We trained 219 District residents in courses where the graduates earned a national certification. These classes included: - IT: Network+ and Security+ because we see that cybersecurity and managing computer networks are growing fields; these courses were at the UPO Workforce Institute. - Cleaning and Sanitation Training & Small Business Startup, with 98 motivated graduates. Most of them gained paid assignments (including a contract with DC government), 28 began full-time jobs, and 20 started new businesses. � We provided 2,000 laptops to support children’s distance learning, and to seniors to prevent social isolation and encourage telehealth visits. We continue to hold computer literacy classes for seniors. � We referred 392 people to licensed mental health providers so they could have a safe space to deal with their trauma, grief, and loss. As the pandemic continued, we saw that more men and children (ages 4-13) came for counseling, including people who saw that the pandemic worsened their depression or

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

� We addressed food insecurity by partnering with Capital Area Food Bank, Martha’s Table, and 25 other organizations for weekly drop-offs of food as well as distributions of hot meals, produce, household goods, and PPE (personal protective equipment). � We supported 200 families when they were quarantined, delivering the care packages and food they needed. � We helped 36 families with medical bills, baby supplies, summer camp tuition, and burial support. � We enabled community-based organizations to run high-quality summer camps that addressed children’s learning loss. And then we created an EPIC Book Club for grades K-5 while supporting their social and emotional wellness (see p. 9). � We trained 150 high school students in the CARES Construction Trade Workshops, a collaboration with our UPO Workforce Institute that sparks new ideas for careers. (See the NBC4 story on p. 15.)

The impact of CARES Act funding

� We prevented eviction for 518 households by distributing $3 million in rental support.

PRO-EDUCATION Programs Create Opportunity Our PRO-EDUCATION efforts give people at every age what they need to unlock their full potential. We start by inviting pregnant mothers to learn about pre-natal care, then we help to nurture their children in Early Head Start. As students grow, our programs follow them with afterschool and summer programs that propel them to toward college and careers. We also strengthen the skills of human services professionals and bring in senior volunteers to mentor children — which helps all of them thrive!

UPO is DC’s LARGEST EARLY HEAD START PROVIDER

SHE WAS LOST — THEN SHE FOUND HER DIRECTION “Being an educator is crucial. I know the frustrations, I know the worries of being a parent. I make sure the parents feel comfortable coming to me,” said Maame Nyarko, a teacher at our Frederick Douglass Early Learning Center. “I welcome them with open arms, without judgment. They get understanding and an abundance of resources — education, diapers, food, clothes. That is such a blessing. “I discovered UPO when I enrolled my 2-year-old daughter Iniko at the Malcolm X Early Learning Center. I was nervous because she wasn’t walking. I expressed my concern and the teachers encouraged her every day with activities. Within a week, she was walking. And I was crying. I had thought, ‘Is there something lacking within me?’ instead of seeing that Iniko was developing at her own pace. Soon I found my voice on the Parent Policy Council [which decides the budget and direction of the centers’ programs] and became the liaison to UPO’s Board of Directors. “My career changed, too. I’d been working in culinary but restaurants were closed during COVID so I was lost. Malcolm X Center Director Erica Belton said, ‘You’d be perfect for our Child Development Associate training program.’ She and Tracey Parham saw the greatness in me so I signed up and I got my license! Now I’m teaching with passion. My next step: an Associate’s Degree.”

ENGAGING PARENTS Even though children returned to classrooms, all of our events for parents were required to remain online. We explored various ways to increase parents’ knowledge and participation. The most popular events included Toilet Training, Cook-Along Food Demos, Resilience (for fathers), Disabilities, Picky Eaters, and of course Baby Showers. Our support for parenting skills includes courses with tools and guides that promote a positive approach to a child’s behavior and positive discipline. 6

Children try on different professions at our Edgewood Early Learning Center.

OFFICE OF EARLY LEARNING UPO operates 17 centers throughout the city (see p. 29) and was chosen by the District to oversee 16 others in the Quality Improvement Network (a citywide effort to improve educational outcomes).

During the pandemic, we offered different types of teaching, including live online classes and recorded ones that sparked parent-child interaction during the day. As we moved back into classrooms, we managed children’s transitions with traumainformed care and kept helping them achieve school readiness. Our wraparound support for families ranged from crisis intervention to giving laptops to families for classes, plus mental health care, housing and food assistance, job training, post-partum care, 90,000 diapers, and more. UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

50% between the Fall and Spring.

25%

increase in children meeting national benchmarks in Social Emotional Development and Emergent Literacy.

For additional program data, please visit www.upo.org/PIR

A MOTHER BUILT CONNECTIONS AT UPO “I started working for UPO right after I had my first daughter M’Ryha. I joined because I love numbers and I love people. I came back [after maternity leave] because I liked the family atmosphere — I can lean on my colleagues for everything,” said Kenichia White, a Fiscal Administrative Assistant for UPO’s Office of Early Learning. “I was skeptical about Early Learning Centers, then a close friend recommended House of Ruth [a center that UPO oversees in the Quality Improvement Network]. I had a fantastic meeting with a Family Engagement Specialist so M’Ryha went the next day — even though I was having separation anxiety. I struggled to transform that fear into hope. Fast-forward to today: My 3 children have all had LaToria Meyers as their teacher and that makes me so happy! I love the place — I volunteer at parent trainings and was President of the Parent Policy Council. “I’m full of energy every day: Sometimes I pull energy from the sky, sometimes from my children. I’m thrilled that I get to do what I love at UPO, and I see what our team does for people. We’re weaving a community.”

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

Our Passion is Helping Children Blossom

Enrollment increased by

10% of children exited the program above national benchmarks for their growth range with over a

PRO-EDUCATION Programs Create Opportunity THE YOUTH SERVICES DIVISION is expanding its reach. Our strategy includes hiring a college and career readiness coordinator to give students more information on how to get into college and pay for it, as well as guidance on career pathways — especially for students who are the first in their families to go to college. (Read about our Beaversd Scholarships on p. 10)

Our highly effective EPIC Book Club sparked a love of literacy.

Providing Opportunities With Educational Readiness POWER motivates students in grades 6-12 to pursue a post-secondary education or a promising career by offering academic, cultural, and social enrichment activities that develop critical thinking skills and open their eyes to opportunities for success.

CREATE inspires students in grades 1-5 through academic and socialemotional enrichment activities that build confidence in learning and develop a strong sense of self.

51% of CREATE students were below proficient in Math or English at the start of the school year; at the end,

98%

of that subset improved to proficient or better

“ I chose CREATE because I saw with my older children how involved, caring, and consistent the program was, not only with the students’ needs but also wanting parent input. I love the opportunities afforded to the children in CREATE. They encourage problem solving and plenty of team-building activities which allow the children to learn from one another. ” – Monique, mother of 5th grader Zonique

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

BOOK CLUB L I T E R A CY PROGRAM

After 6 sessions,

63% of EPIC Book Club participants demonstrated improvement in reading

“ Thank you! Bringing EPIC into our classrooms truly made a tangible difference. It was a joy to see so many students making personal connections to the texts. The follow-up activities allowed for deeper exploration in hands-on and exciting ways. What became especially meaningful for our students was the social-emotional component that allowed us to create safe spaces for them to share, reflect and practice emotional regulation strategies. The small group setting was ideal for … more opportunities to develop closer friendships and bonds with their peers and teachers. Our students’ love of literacy was positively enriched, as evidenced by growth and record achievement in their academic outcomes…” - The Randle Highlands EPIC Book Club Team

(Shelby Cook, Kimberly Kenley, Winfred Thomas, Jazzmyne Townsend, Crystal Wilson)

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

How to REVERSE Learning Loss

E P IC

This new initiative reverses some of the COVID-related learning loss for K-5th graders. Our EPIC literacy activities also help them develop positive coping strategies. With funding from Learn24, EPIC will continue at two new school sites in 2022-23, expanding to serve 60 youth.

PRO-EDUCATION Programs Create Opportunity A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS AT OUR MLK BREAKFAST Our 38th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast honored his legacy by raising funds to make college dreams come true. UPO awarded Beavers Scholarships to each of 10 outstanding DC students from families with difficult financial challenges. Thanks to our donors, UPO has invested over $1 million to support 200 scholars. They have become scientists and teachers, music artists and entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders.

UPO President and CEO Andrea Thomas was honored to interview Congressman James E. Clyburn as part of our MLK Breakfast.

Our Keynote Speaker was Congressman James E. Clyburn, a civil rights leader who met Dr. King and said, “I have never been the same.” After his speech, UPO President Andrea Thomas interviewed the Honorable James Clyburn, who said, “I was an anti-poverty worker. I have a lot of respect for you who work in that field.”

DRIVING CHANGE WITH OUR EQUITY FORUM ON MENTAL HEALTH The problem of inequity in Mental Health grew during the pandemic. To address this crisis, UPO both connected people with care (see p. 5 about the counseling sessions) and convened thought leaders. Our deepest thanks to moderator Mary Roary, PhD and panelists Barbara J. Bazron, PhD, Howard Stevenson, PhD, and Lisa Cacari Stone, PhD. You can see their bios, watch our 4th Annual Equity Forum, and find a list of behavioral health resources at www.upo.org/forum2022

FAMILY STRENGTHENING: STRENGTHS-BASED TRAINING Our professional development training (a partnership with Temple University) is a proven success from every perspective. Our employees become stronger leaders, our coaching helps our customers build on their strengths, and trauma-informed care benefits our community. This year, some classes are online and, at UPO’s request, the Family Development Credential is being translated into Spanish. (The Credential course is a requirement for Head Start Performance standards for Family Workers.)

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

Our program successfully met the challenge of continuing to help children during the pandemic: We taught computer literacy to 100 Foster Grandparents who then eagerly mentored children who were learning remotely, and we re-certified their background checks so they were ready to serve once the school doors reopened. We also teamed up with Reading Partners to train and place 30 Foster Grandparents on their new online platform. The Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon honored seniors who have sustained the program and Foster Grandparents who died during the pandemic including our beloved Virginia McLaurin (at age 112).

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

The Steve Harvey Show interviewed Foster Grandparents Program Director Cheryl Christmas about the value of mentoring for children and seniors. Listen to the WHUR story at www.upo.org/fostergrandparents

Our

151 seniors

volunteered

34,676 hours

to mentor

1,083 children

Foster Grandparents: Love + Wisdom = Mentors

“Foster Grandparents” are seniors who volunteer to mentor children in literacy, math, motor skills, and social-emotional skills. (We work in Tier 1 schools, with the students who need the most help.) UPO Foster Grandma Cassandra Gentry says that working with students gives her a sense of belonging: “Maybe I need them as much as they need me.” See her heartfelt video at www.upo.org/fostergrandparents

PRO-WORK Programs Open Doors UPO is devoted to helping people reach their full career potential. The UPO Workforce Institute is a licensed institute of higher education with nationally recognized vocational training programs in high-demand fields. Our wraparound approach to Career Development helps people overcome employment barriers with a practical action plan for how to rise out of poverty. Our team gives District residents the skill set, resources, and opportunity to get and keep jobs that launch careers. (See the cover photo.) All of our programs open doors for customers. And we’re never “done” with them. They become part of the UPO Family for life.

Professional Building Maintenance graduates of the UPO Workforce Institute.

TRAINING COURSES FOR NATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS Construction Trade Professional Building Maintenance (PBM) Electrical Technician Plumbing Telecommunications/Broadband Introduction to Telecommunications (+ additional certifications) Information Technology IT Helpdesk and Application Support Specialist (CompTIA A+) Culinary Arts ServSafe Food Protection Manager Healthcare Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

“I never had a job…until I came to UPO for help…” - DeAngelo

Education Child Development Associate (CDA) Commercial Driving Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class A and B

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

HE WORKED HARD TO EARN HIS 1ST JOB “My name is DeAngelo. I’m 36, I live in Ward 8, and suffer with a learning disability. I never had a job and have always lived with my mother… until I came to UPO for help with employment. My Case Manager Charles Pyatt had a relationship with Didlake so he helped me with my resume and application for a custodian job. Then my Job Developer Annie Higginbotham helped me with interviewing skills and job prep. After my interview, I was hired for a job at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with full benefits. I have held my job for a year. Thank you to my UPO team who worked with me on this journey!”

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

1,177

customers obtained jobs through UPO and our partners.

national certifications earned, a 550% increase over the previous year despite the pandemic.

792

customers earned Commercial Driver’s Licenses. This training had the highest demand and inspired the greatest devotion from our students: 92% of them graduated and became CDL drivers.

customers received job readiness services.

142

351

customers achieved job readiness certificates.

visits to the One Stop Lab, where customers have resources to help them take the next steps in their job search.

Moving our Customers Forward

612

PRO-WORK Programs Open Doors

UPO Inspire continued to support UPO’s IT trainees by providing

$18,275

High school students explore new careers at our Building Careers Academy, DC’s largest construction training center.

in incentive stipends as they completed their CompTIA A+ certification.

“ MY JOB TRAINING WAS A GAME CHANGER ” "I graduated from their Professional Building Maintenance program; then I was interviewed by Bozzuto Management and was hired on the spot as a Maintenance Technician with full benefits. Here’s a punchlist with the steps it took for me to grow.

MY DRIVE AND DETERMINATION My mom has gotten ripped off by home contractors. So I got the urge to learn enough to fix our home. I joined the UPO class to show my mom and daughter that I could do it.

EDUCATION FOR MY CHILD “ I swear, I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for UPO.” - Naté Shairece McNatt, who has taken charge of her life

UPO offered to take care of my 18-month-old daughter at their Early Learning Center in Roosevelt High School while I was in class. (She loved it so she still goes there!)

MY INSTRUCTOR Richard Cochran not only shared knowledge, he also got to know us. He taught me dedication, structure, and how to use my energy strategically. As I got more engaged in these skills, it dawned on me that they could spark a new career.

MY INITIATIVE In class, I took notes and often asked questions to help other students grasp slippery concepts. When I graduated, I felt great — I had lifted myself and them! Then I prepared for the Bozzuto opportunity. Mr. Cochran showed me how to ‘flip’ the interview: I did a lot of research about the company to learn their goals and what they would expect from me. I walked confidently into the interview and they surprised me by hiring me right away. Now I’m learning HVAC and mechanical systems at my job and I’ve stayed proactive: I’ll ask others, “Do you need help?” and then I’ll invent a creative way to make something easier for my team. I’m hungry to learn more; I will move up the ranks and eventually open my own business…which will include on-the-job training to help folks who were in my shoes. Also, I’ve changed our garbage disposal at home (among other upgrades) and bought a car. My mom and daughter are proud of me. I love UPO!”

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

PAVING A CAREER PATH FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS NBC4 reporter Megan McGrath wanted to show how we open the eyes of high school students to careers they had never considered. She interviewed instructors and graduates of our Building Careers Academy, which is the District’s largest construction training center. The Construction Trade Workshops “opened up new experiences for me, new passions I want to learn, new jobs,” said UPO graduate Leah Alemu. Please see the video at www.upo.org/cares

“ [UPO’s program] really helped me change my life. They teach you skills [that other] schools really don’t teach you. ” - UPO graduate Isaiah Kpodi, who completed our

This initiative began in 2021 as a collaboration between our CARES Act team and the UPO Workforce Institute. In 2022, we welcomed 150 eager students, primarily from public schools across the District. The program was so successful that DC Public Schools now requires its Career and Technical Education coordinators to partner with UPO by referring students for post-secondary opportunities.

Construction Trade Workshops, then earned a national certification in Plumbing

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

PRO-COMMUNITY Programs Transform Lives UPO helps District residents amplify their voices so they can build stronger neighborhoods and live healthy, productive lives. We address the causes and conditions of poverty and give people the tools they need to succeed, from affordable housing to education, from food to free tax prep, from healthcare to the city’s first Financial Empowerment Center. With this toolkit, people can pave a path to economic security.

To improve health literacy, we conducted an Overdose Awareness Day forum with Foundation for a Drug Free World.

HOW TO IMPROVE HEALTH We are addressing health disparities and behavioral health issues, and sparking health education throughout the city. UPO is a key partner in the Advancing Health Literacy and Promoting Health Equity Collaborative, an initiative of the DC Health Dept. Since Wards 5, 7, and 8 have the highest health disparities, we reached out to community partners to develop wraparound services that built awareness and tore down misinformation. Our programs included vaccine clinics, HIV awareness drives, workshops on STIs and chronic diseases, and education about COVID that led to new, more effective language in DC Health ads around the city. Residents who previously were skeptical about vaccines said they were grateful to “walk outside my door to get my vaccine.”

� We held 200+ community events, including 20 educational workshops in Wards 5, 6, 7, and 8 such as Being Well in the Post COVID World and on The Way to Happiness (with The Way to Happiness Foundation). � We deepened our partnership with MedStar Family Choice. Together, we held roundtable discussions with new audiences and connected these customers to more resources. � DC Housing Authority has given UPO space in the Greenleaf Senior Building in SW for a satellite office to serve residents, and we intend to add additional offices in Ward 5 and 7.

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

The Medication Assisted Treatment Program for opioid use at our Comprehensive Treatment Center embraces a holistic, results-oriented approach. We successfully served 240 customers, giving impetus to their recovery process. Our staff is fighting a vigorous campaign against Fentanyl use to prevent overdose deaths; on Overdose Awareness Day, we educated customers on the use of Narcan and Fentanyl test strips, distributing 327 test strips and 143 bottles of Narcan. We also reengaged customers via town hall meetings to ensure full participation in treatment. James, age 43, was among our many successful discharges. He entered treatment for a dependence on opioid pain medication. James attended oneon-one and group counseling and stayed focused on his goals. During this time, his wife gave birth to two children and he started a new business. He officially ended his opioid dependence and his family is so proud.

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

SHELTER HOTLINE We are on the front lines during the pandemic. Our team is an integral part of the DC Continuum of Care: Every day, we are patrolling the city to check the health of people who live on our streets.

Responded to

Gave

92,895

112,123

Distributed

meals to people experiencing homelessness

life-sustaining items, including blankets to a former opioid user who said that the care and attention from UPO was the reason he “got clean and turned my life around”

emergency calls

rides to people experiencing homelessness

28,002 179,001

Health and Wellness

HOW TO TREAT OPIOID ABUSE

PRO-COMMUNITY Programs Transform Lives LEADING THE WAY IN FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT Building on UPO’s experience as the District’s Financial Navigator, DC’s Dept. of Insurance, Securities, and Banking chose our Petey Greene Community Service Center to become the first Financial Empowerment Center in the city. Our center will serve as the model for financial counseling: DISB intends to create a center in each Ward to help people meet their financial goals and achieve tangible milestones.

The Winter Wonderland Party at UPO's Petey Greene Community Service Center.

COMMUNITY LEADER: UPO SPECIALIST

FLORENCE M. ROBINSON

“I learned a greater concept of leadership: One voice can help to create change...I love reaching out to parents in my community and inspiring them.” - Florence M. Robinson (a mother of 5), who found purpose at UPO’s Community Leadership Academy and is now on our Community Advocacy team

COMMUNITY CHAMPION: UPO VOLUNTEER

WANDA DUDLEY

Wanda Dudley won AARP’s nationwide General Volunteer of the Year Award for her tireless efforts at UPO. Her 7 years of passionate advocacy have sparked changes — now 350+ seniors get healthier food every month. To learn how Wanda gets more out of volunteering than she gives, watch NBC4’s video about her at www.upo.org/media

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

594

customers received free Tax Preparation Assistance and received over $1,015,000 in tax refunds; our free tax program is the largest in Ward 8 and the 2nd largest in DC

customers received rental assistance and their threat of eviction was lifted

225

38,566

residents participated in our Community Leadership Academy — they are seizing their power and making their visions real

customers eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program received EBT cards to keep food on their tables

191

volunteers donated - that’s a value of

11,744

hours

$266,979 -

Volunteers are the backbone of our nonprofit. They are actively building their own neighborhoods by helping with Community Advocacy, Outreach, and Engagement, Neighborhood Improvement, and the Maryland Community Action Partnership’s Vision and Value Awards.

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

Moving our Customers Forward

1,145

PRO-COMMUNITY Programs Transform Lives TOGETHER, WE IMPROVE WASHINGTON HIGHLANDS In 2014, UPO responded to the input of residents in Ward 8’s Washington Highlands neighborhood. After they shared their concerns in our Community Needs Assessment, we launched the Washington Highlands Community Advancement Network initiative. This place-based strategy makes visible improvements in employment, education, food, and health because of a deep collaboration between stakeholders. For example, WinnCompanies provides space, funding, and support to ensure that residents of their properties have access to UPO and our partners. Cure the Streets and Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative are onsite alongside UPO to deliver programs and resources. Collectively we have served all 1500+ residents of Atlantic Gardens, Atlantic Terrace, and Southern Hills Apartments, improving their quality of life.

At this Meet & Greet event, 67 SW residents and 12 community partners worked in groups to identify their vision for their neighborhood. (Caption)

HELPING TO TURN LIVES AROUND Our Permanent Supportive Housing program relies on a devoted team (above). We provide wraparound services to highly vulnerable individuals and families experiencing homelessness, helping them to ﬁnd homes, stay in their new homes, and achieve the highest possible self-sufﬁciency and quality of life.

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY To address the District’s economic and racial inequities, UPO opened a Legislative Advocacy division which will fight for systemic changes by amplifying the voices of our customers. The director is Ed Lazere, who led the DC Fiscal Policy Institute for 20 years. Our current priorities include Mental Health (residents’ challenges and lack of access to treatment), Affordable Housing, and Gun Violence Prevention.

We help people finally gain the stability they need, such as C., a mom who had a Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) case against her due to neglect of her children. Once she gained a home, she seized the opportunity to change, with a new mindset that led to a new job and a new education. After 18 months, CFSA closed her case. They saw that C. had completely turned her life around. UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

affordable housing. UPO is partnering with developers to create new affordable homes. Once a family has a home, we can help them address other needs including education, employment, and health. Our partnership with premier developer TM Associates is a reflection of our shared values. We are both committed to creating high-quality affordable apartments for people who earn under 50% of the area’s median income. As soon as we completed our first building, the 76-apartment MDL Flats at 1550 First St. SW, we began construction of its larger sibling next

A Place to Call Home

One of the District’s greatest needs is

door. MDXL Flats at 1530 First St. SW will have 101 units and will also be 100% affordable. These new homes — the first new affordable housing in SW in well over a decade — share the beauty, comfort, and dignity of market-rate homes and will inspire others to follow our lead. 1530 1st St. SW under construction

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

MEASURABLE OUTCOMES

INCOME MANAGEMENT 146

customers received Financial Counseling and Capability Skills training

175

seniors participated in recreation and socialization activities

1,145

customers received free Tax Preparation Assistance

151

seniors engaged as volunteers via Foster Grandparents

191

volunteers engaged (other than Foster Grandparents)

EMERGENCY

EMPLOYMENT 1,359

customers enrolled in vocational skills training

1,177

national certifications earned by our vocational training graduates

3,301

customers received employment services

792

customers received job readiness training

788

customers referred to jobs

612

customers obtained jobs

92,985

phone calls received and processed by Shelter Hotline

179,001

life-sustaining items distributed

112,123

rides provided to customers experiencing homelessness

157,184

seniors participated in congregate meals customers benefited from Mobile Grocery Distribution

36,527

684

children between 0-5 served by Early Head Start

1,083

youth mentored by Foster Grandparents

234

youth engaged through youth programs

225

residents participated in the Community Leadership Academy

356

Early Head Start families made gains on their needs assessment score

1,720

customers received Case Management services

44,999

Electronic Benefit Cards were issued

counseling sessions by Comprehensive Treatment Center

520

adults received wellness classes

243

customers demonstrated improved physical health and well-being

330

customers received housing counseling

594

customers received rental assistance and their threat of eviction was resolved

Customer / Staff Input

57%

Program and Administrative Monitoring

48%

Capacity Building & Governance

74%

80%

The goal is to attain 85% or more at the end of the fiscal year. Due to COVID19, UPO's operations were severely impacted in fiscal year 2022. For more information on our innovative scorecard, visit upo.org/scorecard or scan the QR code.

Assisted:

The number of customers UPO helped compared to the number of customers who sought help.

Stabilized:

The number of customers now stabilized compared to the number of customers who sought help.

2022

70%

2021

82%

Not On Track

2020

ROMA / Programmatic Outcomes / Customer Self-Sufficiency

2022

99%

2021

Financial Strength

On Track

2020

83%

2022

86%

Agency Strategic Plan

2021

Organizational Standards

Achieved

2020

WEIGHT

customers were issued Electronic Benefit Cards

MEASURING AGENCY RESULTS PERFORMANCE

AGENCY SCORE

38,566

HOUSING

SELF-SUFFICIENCY/CASE MANAGEMENT

AGENCY SCORECARD

total volunteer hours served

3,338

meals distributed

518

46,420

HEALTH

NUTRITION

EDUCATION

CATEGORY

LINKAGES

Beyond Stable:

The number of customers achieving or exceeding stability compared to the number of customers who sought help.

Unduplicated Customer Count 2020: 49,324 | 2021: 58,120 | 2022: 52,569 UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

FINANCIAL STATEMENT for fiscal years ending September 30, 2022 (At the time of printing, the 2022 numbers have yet to be audited. When that process is complete, we will update the statement on our website.)

2022 ($)

2021 ($)

Direct Federal Grants and Contracts

10,269,145

8,626,968

Fed Pass‐through Grants and Contracts

29,490,081

20,228,959

Direct D.C. Grants and Contracts

8,593,733

8,211,390

Private Grants and Contributions

8,230,096

2,377,667

32,647

48,838

56,615,702

39,493,822

Revenue

Fees and Contributions Total Revenue

Community Services

27,873,030

20,189,358

Early Learning

17,454,405

11,687,089

Homelessness

2,846,772

2,821,886

74,293

33,985

48,248,500

34,732,318

Other Programs

Supportive Services General and Administrative

GOAL #1 Offer pathways to the middle class through economic security programming directed at family strengthening through asset enhancement opportunities

GOAL #2 Create and grow social enterprise opportunities

GOAL #3 Expand portfolio of programs offered regionally

Expenses

Total Program Expenses

STRATEGIC GOALS

4,679,533

3,912,750

Other Inc/Exps

61,125

43,721

Bad Debt Exps

776,389

TOTAL EXPENSES

53,765,547

38,688,789

Change in Net Assets

2,850,155

805,033

Net Assets, Beginning of Year

8,318,263

7,513,229

NET ASSETS, END OF YEAR

11,168,417

8,318,263

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

GOAL #4 Develop and implement a coordinated marketing and development approach

GOAL #5 Leverage government funding by 20% with private sector support

GOAL #6 Employ the Baldridge Management Practices of Continuous Improvement

FUNDING SOURCES We are pleased to acknowledge and thank our most generous benefactors who made gifts during FY 2022 between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022.

INVESTMENTS OF

INVESTMENT OF $3,500,000+

$10,000 – $15,000

Bainum Family Foundation

Anonymous Capital Area Asset Building Corporation Capital Area Food Bank Comcast NBCUniversal

INVESTMENTS OF $20,000 – $30,000 TD Charitable Foundation United Way NCA The Wollenberg Foundation

Funds II Foundation Invariant TM Associates, Inc. Washington Convention and Sports Authority

INVESTMENTS OF

Elizabeth and Robert Margolis MedStar Family Choice, Inc. Pepco, an Exelon Company United Bank

Al's Twin Air LLC City National Bank Clark Construction Group, LLC The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness Gallagher Benefit Services Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission John & Leslie Oberdorfer

$5,000–$9,999

$2,500–$4,999 RCM&D Safeway Foundation Stein Mitchell Beato & Missner LLP Storyline Strategies TD Bank T. H. Easter Consulting W. S. Darley & Co

INVESTMENTS OF $1,000–$2,499

INVESTMENTS OF $500–$999

ALLN1 Proservices American Psychological Association Andrews Federal Credit Union ASALH Erik Boas and Susanne Morris Jo Raffa Boukhira Barbara and Randall Bovbjerg Bozzuto & Associates Brookfield Properties Development The Buffett Early Childhood Fund Cabot Creamery Cooperative (AARP Show Your Love) CDW DC Housing Authority Delta Housing Corporation Edgewood Brookland Family Support Collaborative Giant Food Greater Washington Community Foundation

AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia Lisa Arcari Mary Ellen Curtin Eagle Academy Public Charter School Friends of Kennedy Playground, Inc. Donna Grigsby Hewlett Packard Juan Jara Matthew Kahn Kaiser Permanente MidAtlantic States Kaplan Early Learning Company

Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham Dana M. Jones Kadida Development Group Lakeshore Learning Materials Long Fence Robert Margolis Gayle Maslow Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Mervyn Myers Kevin Oberdorfer Thomas Oberdorfer Tara Plochocki PNC Financial Services Group Robert Half Systcom Tau Gamma Delta Sorority Inc. Andrea Thomas UBT William B. & Sallie B. Wallace WinnCompanies

Mainmicro Technologies Corporation McCord Design Group Jason McDowell Daniel Ofori-Addo Zach Ratzman Oliver Spurgeon Joseph Vaughan

We also thank our many other donors who made gifts during FY 2022. We are deeply grateful for all our donations no matter the size. Your generosity makes our lifesaving work possible as we guide our neighbors on a path toward financial stability and wellness. 24

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

DONOR SPOTLIGHT TM Associates and UPO have a joint commitment to providing high quality, dignified affordable housing. Together, we are fostering an environment rich in supportive services to uplift and empower our residents and the communities we serve. For example, our MDL/MDXL Flats project is the first new affordable housing in SW in well over a decade. DC’s Dept. of Housing and Community Development says the project’s combination of high quality and deep affordability is “unprecedented” and “we look to this as a model” for the District.

“ TM Associates owns and/or manages 17,000 apartments in 400 affordable communities across 15 states and DC. We are honored and pleased to partner with UPO in Washington, DC — together we are building and servicing the finest affordable and permanent supportive housing in the city for renters at or below 50% of the area’s median income. Our buildings at 1530 and 1550 First St., SW set an example for what can be done to mitigate losing the local population to gentrification in one of DC’s hottest housing markets by going vertical with firstrate new buildings that are 100% affordable.” — B ob Margolis, Owner / Chief Executive Officer, TM Associates

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

PROVIDERS & PARTNERS COMMUNITY PARTNERS Each year, we partner with myriad organizations throughout the Washington, DC area to provide the highest-quality programs, all designed to help our customers attain economic security. Thank you for your continued support. AimHire Ajilon Allied Universal America Works of Washington, DC American University Amidon-Bowen Elementary School Anacostia Coordinating Council Anacostia Economic Development Corporation Andrews Federal Credit Union Anne Beers Elementary School APB Associates Ballou Senior High School Ballou STAY Opportunity Academy Bank of America Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School Black Coalition Against COVID Bombas Bowie State University Bravo Zulu Chess Academy Bread for the City Brentwood Recreation Center Bright Beginnings Early Childcare The Brooks Group, LLC Browne Education Campus Building Bridges, LLC Burroughs Education Campus Burville Elementary School Byte Back C3 Cares Calvary Health Care Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB) Capital Area Food Bank Career Gear Central Union Mission CentroSync Cesar Chavez Public Charter School Chesapeake Regional Information System for Our Patients (CRISP) Children & Charity Children’s Health Project Children's Legacy Theater 26

Chimes DC Christ Church Christian Tabernacle Child Development Center CityWorks DC Coalition for Non-Profit Housing & Economic Development (CNHED) Coalition for Smarter Growth Community Bridges, LLC Community Connections Community of Hope Community Tax Aid Community Wellness Venture Compass DC Competitive by Nature Competitive Innovations Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency Covenant House C-Tech CURE the Streets DASH - District Alliance for Safe Housing David Lynch Foundation DC127 DC Board of Elections DC Child and Family Services Agency DC Community Courts DC Dept. of Behavioral Health DC Dept. of Disability Services - Rehabilitation Services Administration DC Dept. of Employment Services DC Dept. of Health DC Dept. of Housing and Community Development DC Dept. of Human Services DC Dept. of Insurance, Securities and Banking DC Dept. of Parks and Recreation DC Healthy Families DC Housing Authority DC Hunger Solutions DC Public Library DC Mayor’s Office

DCPS Office of Early Childhood Education DC Safe DC Strong Start DC Students Construction Trades Foundation DC Superior Court DCTV District Health Care Services DOES Project Empowerment Dress for Success Drew Elementary School Eagle Academy PCS East River Family Strengthening Collaborative Educare of Washington, DC Edward C Mazique PCC - Infant Edward C Mazique PCC - Reeves Edward C Mazique PCC - Tyler House Edward C. Mazique PCC Developing Families El Bethel Baptist Church Empowerment Center E.R. Bacon Development, LLC Ethiopian Community Center Events DC Excel Academy EYL 365 Projects, LLC Famalay Staffing, LLC Family Medical Counseling Service Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative Fedcap, Inc. 1st CDL Training Center of NOVA First Rock Baptist Church Child Development Center Fishscale Fort Lincoln New Town Foster & Adoptive Parent Advocacy Center Foulger-Pratt Friendship Public Charter School - Blow Friendship Public Charter School - Cham

Friendship Southeast Elementary School Friendship Technology Preparatory School Friendship Woodridge Elementary School Future Resources Learning Genesis Healthcare, Bradford Oaks Center George Washington University - Milken Institute School of Public Health Giant Food Giant Pharmacy Gonzaga - Omega Men for the Homeless GOODProjects Greater DC Diaper Bank Greater Help Ministries Greater Washington Urban League Natalie Greenbaum Greenleaf Resident Council H Street Community Development Health Management Associates Healthy Babies Health Services for Children with Special Needs Healthy Families/ Thriving Communities Collaborative Council Higher Development Academy Home Depot House of Ruth - Kidspace Howard University Howard University Hospital The HSC Pediatric Center Hubbard Place Hutchins 360 STEM illuminatED Imagine Public Charter School Industrial Bank InnerCity Collaborative CDC Israel Baptist Church James Creek Resident Council J.C. Nalle Elementary School Jobs Have Priority Jones Memorial United Methodist Church

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

JPMorgan Chase Jubilee Housing K&L Gates Kavi Wellness Ketcham Elementary School King Elementary School Labcorp Langdon Elementary School Langley Elementary School Language Solutions Latin American Youth Center Learn24 LightHouse DC Little Lights Urban Ministries Living Classrooms Foundation National Capital Region Logan Elementary School Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area Malcolm X Elementary School Martha’s Table The Mary Elizabeth House Matthews Memorial Baptist Church The Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs Medstar Family Choice DC Melwood Meiger Health Metropolitan Police Department Michael’s Creative Minds Mid City Management (Brookland Manor) National Children’s Center National Family Engagement Alliance The National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens National Restaurant Association Neighborhood Legal Services Northeastern Presbyterian Church NRI-Staffing Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Office of Latino Affairs Office of Neighborhood & Safety Engagement Om Shanti OSSE: 21st Century Parents with Partners Payne Elementary School PNC Bank Pragmatics Prestige Healthcare Resource Prive’ Demeure, Inc. Providence Hospital PSI Service III, Inc. R. Emmanuel Bell Consulting Randle Highlands Elementary School Reading Partners - J.C. Nalle Richard Wright Public Charter School R.I.S.E. Center Rockstar Cutz Roots Public Charter School

CHILD DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS UPO is an education hub for DC’s Quality Improvement Network. We’re partnering for excellence with these child development centers across the city. Bell Teen Parent

Kennedy Institute

Big Mama’s

Kids Are People Too

Board of Child Care

Kids Are Us Learning Center

Christian Tabernacle

Love and Care

Community Education

Loving Care

House of Ruth

National Children’s Center

Jubilee JumpStart

Sunshine Early Learning

NETWORK OF SERVICE PROVIDERS We rely on effective organizations such as these to help fulfill our mission. Catholic Charities - Archdiocese of Washington Collaborative Solutions for Communities Community Services Agency, Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO

S.A.F.E. DC Safeway, Inc. Salvation Army Shelters to Shutters SkyPoint FCU SNAP/Hunger Solutions Spanish Education Development Center Stanton Elementary School Storyline Strategies Street Sense Media Suited for Change Sunshine Early Learning Center SW BID Syphax Gardens Resident Council Tau Gamma Delta Sorority Inc., Xi Chapter Tel Cort Cooperative Temple University, Harrisburg TD Bank Tele Court Coop Thrive, DC TM Associates Toki Underground Tony Thomas Associates The Training Center Transitional Care Center Trinity University Turner Elementary School Tzedek DC Umbrella Therapeutic Services United Bank

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

DC Central Kitchen Edgewood/Brookland Family Support Collaborative Thrive DC Vida Senior Centers

United Way of the National Capital Area University of the District of Columbia (UDC) U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia Van Ness Elementary School Wards 7 & 8 DC Prevention Center Ward 8 Community Economic Development Plan Washington National Cathedral The Washington Center Washington Leadership Academy Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless Westlink Career Institute Westminster Presbyterian Church Wheatley Education Campus A Wider Circle Kirsten Williams, ANC 5C06 Commissioner WinnCompanies WMATA The Wollenberg Foundation World Central Kitchen WPFW 89.3 FM Zane Networks

WHERE WE SERVE 1

3 4 5

A 6

C 16

BUILDING CAREERS ACADEMY

915 Girard Street NE Washington, DC 20017 202-526-2640

Vocational Skills Training

COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT CENTER

1900 Massachusetts Ave SE Building 13 Washington, DC 20003 202-535-1793 Substance Abuse Treatment

H STREET CENTER

645 H Street NE Washington, DC 20002 202-813-3945 | 202-758-2438 Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Processing

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

EARLY LEARNING NETWORK EARLY HEAD START • HOME BASE

SERVICE CENTERS A

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION (Headquarters)

Coolidge High School

Roosevelt Senior High School

301 Rhode Island Avenue NW Washington, DC 20001 202-238-4600

Luke C. Moore High School

Early Learning | Shelter Hotline for people experiencing homelessness

Edgewood

405 Sheridan Street, NW (WARD 4) | 202-734-0148

4301 13th Street, NW (WARD 4) | 202-939-3609

1001 Monroe Street, NE (WARD 5) | 202-671-6313

601 Edgewood Terrace, NE (WARD 5) | 202-529-1582

Marie Reed Elementary School

2195 Champlain Street, NW (WARD 1) | 202-207-3862

Dunbar Senior High School

Azeeze Bates

Paradise Day Care Center

H. D. Woodson High School

C. W. Harris Elementary School

Anacostia High School

Ketcham Elementary School

Frederick Douglass

Malcolm X Elementary School

Eagle Academy Public Charter School

Ballou Senior High School

Atlantic Gardens

101 N Street, NW (WARD 5) | 202-724-4407

444 16th Street, NE (WARD 6) | 202-388-7960

ANACOSTIA COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER

1649 Good Hope Road SE Washington, DC 20020 202-610-5900 202-610-2796 (Youth Services Office) Youth Services | Foster Grandparents Program Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Processing

3513 Jay Street, NE, Suites A & B (WARD 7) | 202-627-2220

540 55th Street, NE (WARD 7) | 202-724-8841

301 53rd Street, SE (WARD 7) | 202-645-5613

1601 16th Street, SE (WARD 8) | 202-698-2155

RALPH WALDO “PETEY” GREENE COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER

2907 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave SE Washington, DC 20032 202-562-3800 Housing Counseling | Job Placement | Volunteer Opportunities | Advocacy & Community Engagement

1919 15th Street, SE (WARD 8) | 202-610-5872

3240 Stanton Road, SE (WARD 8) | 202-889-2080 Ext. 701

1500 Mississippi Avenue, Se (WARD 8) | 202-617-9787

3425 10th Place SE (WARD 8) | 202-238-4632

3401 4th Street, SE (WARD 8) | 202-645-6689

4228 4th Street, SE (WARD 8) | 202-758-0339

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

—

member of UPO’s Network A of Service Providers

“WHAT I CAN DO” TIME TALENT TREASURE TIES THE RECIPE FOR

SUCCESS

When you volunteer your Time, you give it a purpose. And it can be fun!

Serving others with your unique Talent helps you feel fulfilled.

Your generosity by donating Treasure shows what you value.

When you connect people using your Ties, giving them inspiration and strategic input from peers, you’re expanding your tribe.

Even your smallest deeds have a big effect: They combine with other deeds to improve the lives of our neighbors — and they make you feel good.

To learn about volunteering, visit upo.org/volunteer To make a donation, visit upo.org/donate 30

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

By helping people lift themselves out of poverty, we help families change for generations.

Discover more: WWW.UPO.ORG

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

“STILL I RISE” UPO opens doors of opportunity that enable our customers to become the change agents of their lives.

UPO was born on December 10, 1962 to coordinate the planning of human service needs across the District of Columbia. In 1964, as a result of the Economic Opportunity Act, we took on another leading role: UPO was designated as the nonprofit Community Action Agency (CAA) for the District. Being a CAA means that we strengthen and support DC residents with low incomes and their communities because everyone deserves to be economically secure and reach their full potential. Our blend of policy innovations and frontline responses to residents’ needs have launched nationwide movements such as free legal services programs and food banks. UPO’s holistic approach builds equity and is guided by a strengths-based model: We help staff and customers to build their inner strengths and reach their goals. U.S. Senator Cory Booker thanked us for helping to make the Beloved Community envisioned by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., recognizing that UPO sees that “we all have equal dignity and abundant potential, but we also belong to each other, need each other, and must make investments so that we can thrive.”

UPO began one of the first Head Start pilot programs. Today UPO is the District’s largest Early Head Start provider.

- 1962 -

UPO began onthe-job training programs and housing development/ rehab (of 1,375 homes).

- 1964 - 1964 -

United Planning Organization is incorporated on December 10. Ford Foundation and Meyer Foundation grants provided support for longrange programs.

- 1968 - 1965 -

To provide free legal aid to District residents, UPO created the Neighborhood Legal Services Program, with private funding from the Ford

Foundation. Our model launched a movement to expand access to the civil justice system for Americans with low incomes.

UPO addressed the huge problem of finding food, shelter, and jobs. One result: a UPO food bank, which led to the 1979 creation of the Capital Area Food Bank.

UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION - ANNUAL REPORT 2022

U.S. Congressman John Lewis gave the keynote address at our 2009 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast. First, he heard from a young woman who earned a scholarship from UPO. His reaction: “You almost brought me to tears…[Hearing your story,] I’m not worried about our future, as a nation and as a people.” He thanked UPO for helping our nation RISE and said that each of us can make a contribution and do more. Here’s how he ended his speech:

“You must never, ever give up! Stay with the Dream, the hopes, the longing and aspiration of Dr. King. Walk together. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Continue to embrace this new day. Don’t forget our history.”

UPO began our Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast. At this event, we announce the recipients of our Joseph A. Beavers college scholarships, which we award to outstanding District students from lowincome households.

UPO's Robotics

to the VEX

Club in Ward

Robotics World

8’s Hendley

Championships.

Elementary

Ours was the only

became the State

100% African-

Champion in the

American team

DC VEX IQ Robotics

among the 400

League & advanced

competitors.

- 2015 - 1985 -

UPO reached its 60th Anniversary on December 10.

- 2018 - 2018 -

In 1978, a single mom trained at UPO to become a bank teller. This career led to a stellar education for her daughter, Denise Turner

Roth, who was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2015 to lead the General Services Administration.

FORWARD TOGETHER - Economic Security for All DC Residents

- 2022 The Community Action Partnership honored UPO with the National Award for Excellence in Community

Action. Only 12 agencies (out of 1,000 nationwide) have ever achieved this best-in-class status.

Earned the National Award for Excellence in Community Action from the Community Action Partnership

301 Rhode Island Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-238-4600 WWW.UPO.ORG

CFC # 90524 | DC One Fund Campaign #9881 | United Way NCA #9881

Text UPODonate to 41444 to donate