Details can be found here.

Thanksgiving marks a time when many Americans give thanks and show gratitude for all they have. While we experience the current economic downturn, it is critical that we acknowledge and work to bridge the growing gap between the “rich” and poor. The unemployment rate in the District currently stands at 11.1 percent. According to the Census Bureau, the poverty rate is now over 19 percent, meaning that we have nearly 110,000 neighbors living in need.

One organization working to help reduce hunger this holiday season is D.C. Hunger Solutions. This organization aims to improve the health, nutrition, economic security, and well-being of low-income District residents by trying to create a hunger-free community. Specifically, D.C. Hunger Solutions seeks to improve public policies to end hunger, reduce poverty, promote nutrition and curb obesity. Through vigorous outreach and close work with social service agencies, D.C. Hunger Solutions tries to maximize participation in all federal nutrition programs.

This holiday season those who are fortunate enough to afford a meal will most likely travel to the local supermarket and stock up on food and other goods. The District residents who cannot afford to buy an abundance of food or have transportation to the supermarket, however, may have to get their holiday goods from the local corner store. Traditionally, corner stores are known to have less variety and an unhealthier selection. In consequence, one of D.C. Hunger Solutions’ initiatives is the Healthy Corner Store Program. This initiative focuses on increasing access to fresh produce and nutritious beverages in order to improve D.C. resident’s health.

This Thanksgiving as we spend time with family, watch football games, and enjoy our favorite foods, let us celebrate those who are working to provide underserved District residents a chance to enjoy this holiday. In addition, we must also do our part to ensure our less fortunate neighbors are able to have enough food to eat by participating in canned food drives and volunteering at local soup kitchens.

Happy Thanksgiving from Defeat Poverty DC.

Below are some suggestions on where you can volunteer to help those who are hungry this Thanksgiving.

SOME (So Others May Eat)

Food and Friends

Capital Area Food Bank

Bread For the City

Salvation Army – National Capital Area

Washington DC Jewish Community Center

Turkey Trots in the Washington, DC Area

Councilmember Vincent Orange, of the Committee on Small and Local Business Development, held a public oversight roundtable on Wednesday, November 9. The roundtable discussion pertained to motion picture and television production in the District, and how expanding movie and TV production in the city could lead to economic opportunities for District businesses and residents.

Councilmember Orange stated, “It is time for us to make an investment and open our doors to the film industry. It boosts the economy and provides jobs.”

One panelist, Michael Pickrum, Executive Vice President of BET Networks, supported Orange’s position, insisting the District take the necessary steps to have more television and film production. In support, Orange expressed that such actions would lead to “tremendous amount of business taking place and a tremendous impact on our local economy.”
Councilmember Jack Evans, in support of bringing more movie and TV production to the District, stated that “it costs too much to film in DC. We need to implement a Motion Picture Incentive Fund. We have to invest money (in our local economy) to get money back.”

This public oversight roundtable gave insight to an initiative to Make Work Possible for District residents. The Committee on Small and Local Business Development believes the film industry will positively impact the District. Specifically, the committee believes that if the District becomes a mainstay for film and television production, short-term jobs will develop around the industry and long-term jobs will be created. In addition, local businesses would benefit from having increased sales to the film industry.

Defeat Poverty DC strongly supports all efforts to bring economic activity and jobs to the District. We look forward to working with the Council to bring jobs and employ local residents across our city. Earlier this week, the Washington Times covered this ongoing issue. For the full article, click here.

The Ward 8 Workforce Development Council (WDC) is an alliance of workforce development and community-based support organizations, employers, labor, educational institutions, and DC and US government agencies collaborating to increase the economic security and family wellbeing of DC residents living east of the Anacostia River. The WDC was created in 2007 by Councilmember Marion Barry to help reduce Ward 8’s unemployment, which is the highest in the nation of any metropolitan area with a similarly sized workforce. Since its establishment, the WDC has become a gathering place for local businesses, service providers, and advocates seeking to bring jobs and development to Ward 8.

The WDC aims to build the capacity of the Ward 8 workforce through a continuum of education, training and wrap-around services that help residents prepare for, secure, and retain family-sustaining jobs and careers. In addition, the WDC acts as an intermediary to assist employers in recruiting, hiring and retaining qualified DC resident employees.

Through its diverse and growing membership of nearly 75 organizations, the council is helping unemployed residents, including returning citizens, to overcome the numerous barriers to successful employment and economic security that exist east of the river. The WDC works to improve residents’ access to quality training and support services, reduce duplication of services, improve connections between training and employment, and strengthen retention efforts for newly hired residents.

The WDC is largely a volunteer organization; however, it has brought employment and training opportunities to 550 Ward 8 residents of underserved neighborhoods through Neighborhood Job Tours and created a partnership with the Community College of the District of Columbia to develop employer-driven course offerings and pathways to employment for students upon completion of their studies. WDC has also created a partnership with GSA, Clark Construction Company, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide job opportunities for District residents. WDC has also worked with the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization (OPEFM) to provide job opportunities for Ward 8/7 residents in the Mayor’s Workforce Incentive Program.

As the WDC enters the next phase of its life, it plans to increase its advocacy for bringing jobs and economic opportunity to Ward 8 and to all citizens of the District. The organization is active in ensuring businesses meet the requirements of First Source agreements in the Saint Elizabeth’s project and other projects in the Ward. Additionally, the WDC members have pledged to work together to promote continuity of services for District residents who are struggling to find economic opportunities.

Defeat Poverty DC looks forward to working with the Ward 8 WDC in making work possible, making work pay and making basic needs accessible for all District residents.

The Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) provides services to Latinos and other District residents that equip them with the skills and financial tools to create a better future for their families and communities. LEDC provides services in three fields: small business development and lending, homeownership and foreclosure counseling, and affordable housing preservation. Participants in LEDC programs learn how to buy and stay in their homes, take control of decisions affecting their apartment building, and start or expand small businesses.

The small business development services provided by LEDC helps small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in the District learn basic business skills and access credit to compete, thrive, and provide for their families and communities. These services include microloans, technical assistance, and training.

LEDC’s homeownership and foreclosure counseling helps people purchase their first home in the District. This is made possible through classes, workshops, individual counseling, credit repair, assistance with applying for the DC Home Purchase Assistance Program. In addition, LEDC organizes, educated, and empowers District residents to prevent displacement and secure reliable, long-term, affordable housing.

Ask small business owner Nicolas Canales for the central location of his small business, and the answer is simple – he doesn’t have one. Doing business within the technological age of foursquare and Google Maps, he and his staff can be found in bars, coffee shops, homes, offices, and restaurants all across the District of Columbia – not to mention cities including Baltimore, Boston, Denver, and New York.

“I wanted to do something with my life, and I wanted to do something with my Spanish,” Nicolas says. A student of market demand and consumer preferences, Nicolas epitomizes the nimble small business owner. Quickly able to manage changing circumstances and mindful to actively solicit customer feedback, Nicolas in 2004 launched Spanish Black Belt, a Spanish language institute that is responding to the needs of a globalized economy and a growing clientele looking for ways to start anew or get ahead.

Nicolas’ vision quickly confronted a common challenge facing start-up businesses – a need for capital to increase his small business’ capacity to meet market demand. Rejected for a loan from various banks, which cited the business’ infancy as one factor for its decision, Nicolas applied in 2006 for a $30,000 micro-loan through the Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) to hire two additional part-time teachers to offer more options for students who wanted to learn practical Spanish.

Over the next four years, with LEDC’s guidance and resources, Nicolas established a strong track record of success. Recording a perfect repayment history on his LEDC loan, Nicolas made his final payment in June 2010 – six months ahead of schedule. Nicolas doubled the size of his teaching staff, increased his revenues by 150 percent, and Spanish Black Belt entered new markets including Denver in 2007 and New York in 2008.

When the economic crisis hit, Nicolas swiftly adapted to the new economic environment. Spanish Black Belt withstood a decrease in applications, fewer people electing one-on-one classes, and difficulties retaining staff. By changing parts of his product pricing, increasing the number of cheaper, group classes available, and making plans to increase automation of the application, registration, and enrollment processes, Nicolas created space for his small business to realize the opportunity inherent in the crisis.

“Some people thought, ‘I want to continue learning Spanish,’” Nicolas says. “‘I want to do this now because there is an opportunity here – this could be the way out of the crisis, to learn a new language.’”

Nicolas’ hard work and intuition has paid off. In May, Spanish Black Belt qualified for a new $50,000 loan from M&T Bank, its first loan guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. Now fielding approximately 1500 applications per year, Nicolas and Spanish Black Belt are on pace to replace lost jobs and possibly expand to new locations next year.

LEDC works diligently to provide the opportunity for success for all District residents. By providing the programs and services it does, LEDC helps to provide safety and security, stabilize families, and helps the economic development in the District. Defeat Poverty DC looks forward to working with LEDC to Make Work Possible, Make Work Pay, and Make Basic Needs Accessible for all District residents.

Executive Director Manny Hidalgo