Events
DCGIC General Meeting & Volunteer Orientation
Open to all— bring a friend!
At this meeting we'll set coalition priorities for the upcoming months, have a volunteer orientation (great for new folks), and provide updates on ongoing advocacy efforts.
New to DCGIC? This is a perfect entry point!
April DCGIC General Meeting & Volunteer Orientation
Thursday, April 17th | 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Zoom
Open to all— bring a friend!
At this meeting:
Set coalition priorities for the upcoming months
Volunteer orientation (great for new folks)
Updates on ongoing advocacy efforts
New to DCGIC? This is a perfect entry point!
Social Housing Organizing Meeting
Join the Social Housing Working Group for its biweekly organizing meeting. Learn about its latest activities, what they're planning for the future, and how to get involved.
The Social Housing Working Group seeks to educate Metro DC DSA chapter members and the general public about social housing and to facilitate collective action in support of the passage and implementation of the Green New Deal for Housing Amendment Act.
The legislation proposes to create mixed-income, district-owned housing with market rate units that subsidize a larger number of affordable units. It's a pioneering approach that deepens affordability, invests surplus funds into the creation of more social housing, and locks-in financial sustainability. The bill also includes climate and labor standards and elected tenant boards with oversight over building management.
Glass Class Fundraiser
Learn how to build your own stained glass art piece with artist and organizer Miriam Julianna (she/her). Half of all class fees will be donated to Baldwin House! All supplies will be provided, no experience necessary. Register for the class on April 20th, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm. This will sell out!
Solidarity Organizer Orientation
From 6:30 pm-8:00 pm, join us for a virtual orientation and get plugged into various fundraising committees including grants, communications/outreach, and direct fundraising. You can register with this registration form.
Unforgettable Sacrifice: How Black Communities Remembered the Civil War
Participants will hear from historian Hilary N. Green on her new book, Unforgettable Sacrifice How Black Communities Remembered the Civil War. The book offers a groundbreaking exploration into the heart of African American memory of the Civil War, challenging conventional narratives and revealing a rich history preserved through oral traditions and communal efforts. Through extensive archival research and stories shared on the porches of African American families, Green provides a detailed examination of how diverse Black communities across the United States have actively preserved and contested the memory of the Civil War, from the nineteenth century to the present. Hilary will be in discussion with educator Jessica Rucker.
The event is hosted by Teaching for Change and Busboys and Poets as part of the monthly Beyond Heroes and Holidays series.
Building Relationships Between the Board and General Members
Are you looking to build better relationship with your fellow co-op members or increase co-op member engagement? Mi Casa, Inc. would like to invite you to this month's Co-op Academy training on April 26th at 10:30 AM. This training will provide a comprehensive overview of:
Review the responsibilities of board members and the responsibilities of general members.
Understand the importance of board member communication to general members.
Ensure general members know how to communicate with the board.
Focus on how to build a sense of community within your co-op.
Learn how opportunities to connect one on one with members strengthens the cooperative.
Think through how your co-op can set up systems of support.
Community Safety Fair
Every year, DC Justice Lab brings together a cohort of directly impacted residents to reimagine what justice and safety can look like in our city. Through our Policy Training Academy, participants spend a week developing policy solutions grounded in lived experience and focused on effective change. This April, we’re excited to host our next Training Academy cohort. Over the course of five days, selected participants will gain hands-on training in local policy-making while developing ideas to shape the future of public safety in DC.
The week culminates in our Community Safety Fair—a free, public event where participants present their ideas to community members, advocates, and local decision-makers. This is where YOU come in!
Reboot & Rise Tech Empowerment Reentry Expo
Join us for Reboot & Rise: Tech Expo, the ultimate opportunity to put your newly acquired skills into action and take the next step toward a career in tech! This hands-on event is designed to connect Impacted Individuals with employers, career coaches, and industry experts who can provide the resources, mentorship, and job opportunities needed to succeed.
Whether you're looking for an entry-level role, an apprenticeship, or simply want to learn more about breaking into tech, this event is your launchpad. Come ready to learn, connect, and secure your future in the tech industry!
Reboot. Rise. Thrive.
Black Studies Book Club
The MLK Black Studies Book Club meets every first Saturday of the month to explore, engage, and discuss books from and relating to the Black radical tradition.
We will be reading classics from authors such as Martin Luther King JR., Malcolm X, WEB Dubois, James Baldwin, Audrey Lorde, as well as lesser known and contemporary works. Our scope will not be limited to the U.S. but will encompass an array of authors across the African diaspora and will challenge our conceptions of what Blackness is and what constitutes Black struggle as a whole. Please email MLK Library's Adult Services department at adultservices.dcpl@dc.gov to inquire about meetings and to be placed on the listserv.
2025 Social Justice Curriculum Fair
SAVE THE DATE for the annual Social Justice Curriculum Fair on Saturday, August 23, 2025 from 9:15AM–12:45PM in person at Inspired Teaching Demonstration PCS (200 Douglas Street NE).
This fair is an opportunity for D.C. area educators to connect in person while exploring curriculum aligned with various social justice themes. Coordinated in partnership with DCAESJ working groups, this fair will feature classroom resources from the Zinn Education Project and Social Justice Books, and is designed for pre-K-12 educators. There will also be opportunities to network with D.C. area education organizations at exhibit tables.
ALL attendees will receive professional development credits. Read about our 2024 Social Justice Curriculum Fair.
Trans/Queer Liberation Bi-weekly Meeting
This is the bi-weekly meeting of Metro DC DSA's Trans/Queer Liberation Campaign. RSVP to receive the Zoom link and join us to discuss ongoing efforts such as Project Sanctuary, our Gender & Name Change Clinics, and more!
Federal Workers Rights Training: Fighting Back Against Trump's Illegal Purges
Are you worried about being illegally fired, transferred, unpaid leave, or furloughed? Trump, Musk, & DOGE want to take away your rights, but federal laws and union contracts still protect you in critical ways.
This hybrid Federal labor rights workshop will cover the key protections that you have to fight back with your co-workers. This is an opportunity to hear from, and ask questions to, experienced labor lawyers. Topics covered by this presentation include:
Election of Remedies
Merit System Protections Board (MSPB)
Office of Special Counsel (OSC)
The Whistleblower Protection Act
Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute
Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA)
Union Grievance Procedures
This is part of a continuing series of “Know Your Labor Rights” workshops hosted by experienced labor lawyers and veteran organizers across the metro DC area.
The Facility hybrid film screening and panel discussion
Join the NoVA Abolition Working Group on Saturday, April 12 from 2:30 to 4pm at Arlington Central Library and online for a hybrid film screening and panel discussion of The Facility, a documentary about the organizing led by migrants detained in the Irwin County Detention Facility at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizer Nilson Barahona, featured in the film, will be part of the panel. The event is free to the public.
Whether or not you can attend, if you are financially able, NoVA Abolition is encouraging supporters to make a donation to Free Them All and LaColectiva’s Liberation Fund. This fund supports migrants affected by systems of detention and deportation with needs such as commissary, post-release support, and more. You can donate through Venmo @LaColectiVA with the note “Liberation fund.” *This event is not sponsored by Arlington Public Library. RSVP for the film screening here.
TOPA Canvass
Mayor Muriel Bowser's RENTAL Act would further decimate the rights guaranteed to Washingtonians by the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), stripping these rights from huge swaths of tenants in both new developments and covenanted affordable housing throughout the District.
Stomp Out Slumloards is organizing to defeat this attack on tenants' rights and save TOPA. Join SOS for a canvass to talk to tenants about fighting back and organizing against these attacks on TOPA.
Location is still TBD, RSVP to get updates.
Spring Festival Wangari Gardens
Happy spring everyone!
We have a date for our annual spring festival. It will have games, music, workshops, and best of all, YOU!
Come out, bring a potluck dish to share and enjoy the garden with your neighbors. We hope to see everyone there.
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¡Feliz primavera a todos!
Ya tenemos fecha para nuestro festival anual de primavera. Habrá juegos, música, talleres y, lo mejor de todo, ¡a ti!
Vengan, traigan un plato para compartir y disfruten del huerto con sus vecinos. Esperamos verlos a todos allí.
HWD Info Session
In this info session, we will make space to contend with the current political moment and give you a snapshot of the work Harriet’s Wildest Dreams is engaged in. Our liberation is tied to one another and we need each other to do this work to protect our people — Black people, formerly incarcerated folks, queer and trans communities, and all those at risk of state sanctioned violence.
Being in the nation's capital we are at the center of the empire and also a target for far right extremists. DC is NO ONE’s playground and we must remain vigilant in our fight for statehood, our fight against mass incarceration and the fight for gender liberation and bodily autonomy for all.
If you and your friends are interested in building a better world, free from patriarchal violence, a world where queer is in, then you've come to the right place! Come sit with us as we re-imagine what this world can be and reclaim safety for all of DC.
Who Are We:
We are a Black-led abolitionist community defense hub centering all Black lives most at risk for state-sanctioned violence in the Greater Washington area.
What we do:
Our work includes legal empowerment, political and civic education, mass protest, organizing campaigns, and community care that builds alternatives to oppressive systems.
If you are in need of ASL interpretation please let us know at least 48 hours in advance.
People Over Profit: Tax Justice For All
Federal tax policies shape our local communities—housing, education, healthcare—yet they continue to favor the wealthiest few over working families. This is a moral issue, not just a policy debate.
Join WIN DC for an Interfaith Gathering & Call to Action- bringing together DC residents, faith communities, and community organizations to raise a collective moral voice for a fair tax system that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few. This event is a part of a national campaign with the Economic Security Project and Community Change. Together, we will call for a just tax system both federally and locally that ensures fairness at every level and prioritizes everyday people over the most powerful.
Featured Speakers:
Rev. William H. Lamar IV, Metropolitan A.M.E. Church
Rabbi Hannah Goldstein, Temple Sinai
Imam Dr. Talib M. Shareef, Masjid Muhammad, The Nation’s Mosque
Larry Mishel, Former President, Economic Policy Institute
Erica Williams, Executive Director, DC Fiscal Policy Institute
Dorian Warren, President of Community Change & Board Chair of the Economic Security Project
Samuel Epps, President, Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO
A budget is a moral document. Federal and local tax laws impact our communities funding for housing, public safety, climate justice, and immigrant protections. Stand with us in demanding a tax system rooted in fairness, justice, and the common good.
Please Note: This is an outdoor standing event. Location will be shared with registrants as soon as possible.
Budget Testimony Prep for Community Members
Fair Budget Coalition will be holding 4 Testimony Prep workshops for budget oversight hearings – 2 for organizational members/paid advocates and 2 for community members/individuals.
These workshops are great for new advocates, folks who haven't testified before, and folks who want to brush up on their skills. We can help you figure out what you'd like to testify about and how to do it!
Registration links and times:
Budget Testimony Prep for Organizational Members/Paid Advocates
Fair Budget Coalition will be holding 4 Testimony Prep workshops for budget oversight hearings – 2 for organizational members/paid advocates and 2 for community members/individuals.
These workshops are great for new advocates, folks who haven't testified before, and folks who want to brush up on their skills. We can help you figure out what you'd like to testify about and how to do it!
Registration links and times:
The Burning Case for a Socialist Green New Deal: A Conversation with Dr. Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò
Join Metro DC DSA for a conversation on socialist climate politics with Dr. Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò, Georgetown professor, DSA member, and author of Reconsidering Reparations and Elite Capture: How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics (And Everything Else)!
The neoliberal climate agenda has failed us, and as we face down four years of backsliding on environmental issues at the federal level, the need for locally-driven movements to advance transformative climate justice policy and build the green new deal from the ground up has never been more urgent. Join us for an open discussion with Dr. Táíwò, followed by an interactive session to learn about DC's local GND campaigns and strategize about the path forward.
Campaign Orientation with Harriet's Wildest Dreams
The people of DC deserve dignity, respect, and the right to govern ourselves — but Congress continues to deny us our freedom. Free DC is a new campaign building the cultural and political power it will take to protect our communities from federal overreach and fight for DC's liberation.
Join Harriet’s Wildest Dreams for a Campaign Orientation about Free DC to learn what this effort is about, our strategy to win, and how you can take action in the fight for DC’s autonomy.
Register to join this virtual event on Tuesday, April 8 starting at 6:30 PM on Zoom.
Labor Working Group April Meeting
Join MDC DSA Labor for our April working group meeting. At this meeting, we will be discussing updates from ongoing labor campaigns, identifying action steps for solidarity, and sharing opportunities for further organizing.
This hybrid event is open to both DSA Members and supporters. The in-person event will be at MLK Library. Those who wish to attend virtually will be provided a Zoom registration link after registering. If you require any accommodations to participate in this meeting, please email labor@mdcdsa.org.
COPAGANDA | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation
Writer Alec Karakatsanis is well known on social media and substack for writing about the police, media, and “copaganda.” He is coming to DC on a book tour for his new book, Copaganda, on Tuesday, April 8 at Busboys & Poets on K St. All book royalties are being donated to community organizations. Book event info is here.
Parents’ & Workers’ Low Income Tax Clinic
Mother’s Outreach Network can answer your questions! MON attorneys provide FREE brief advice on the federal Child Tax Credit, the DC EITC, the new local District Child Tax Credit pending for 2025 and more! In partnership with The Caregiver’s D.R.E.A.M @the_caregivers_dream, join us via Zoom on March 11th and/or April 8th at 5pm for a workshop and 1-on-1 brief consultation advice. Register here: bit.ly/MONTaxClinic2025.
Housing Justice Montgomery Budget Hearing Dinner
Come show your support for the Housing Justice Montgomery proposed housing budget! We will be meeting at Courthouse Square Park - across the street from the Council building - at 5:30pm on April 8 to have dinner together and make signs for the hearing. Wear your Housing Justice Montgomery shirt if you have one. We will proceed to the Council building before the start of the hearing at 7:30.
'Stop Solitary' - UDC & Community Advocacy Event
Join us at the University of the District of Columbia for an impactful event focused on ending solitary confinement. This in-person gathering will bring together advocates from the community to raise awareness and drive change. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by this harmful practice. Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of the solution!
Recess at the Capitol Pt. 2
Congress is threatening funding for DC schools. Keep making noise! Meet at the Spirit of Justice Park on Monday, April 7, any time between 9:30am to 3pm. Advocacy trainings and family-friendly recess activities are happening all day. Learn more and RSVP here.
Black Studies Book Club
The MLK Black Studies Book Club meets every first Saturday of the month to explore, engage, and discuss books from and relating to the Black radical tradition.
We will be reading classics from authors such as Martin Luther King JR., Malcolm X, WEB Dubois, James Baldwin, Audrey Lorde, as well as lesser known and contemporary works. Our scope will not be limited to the U.S. but will encompass an array of authors across the African diaspora and will challenge our conceptions of what Blackness is and what constitutes Black struggle as a whole. Please email MLK Library's Adult Services department at adultservices.dcpl@dc.gov to inquire about meetings and to be placed on the listserv.
Mutual Aid w/ Baldwin House
Do mutual aid with us! Join us at Baldwin House every other Saturday, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, for a mutual aid distribution table. Get resources out to the community including food, clothes, and other ad hoc needs. Our next mutual aid table is this Saturday, April 5.
Press Conference To Protect DC's Sanctuary City Status
“El Colectivo de Familias Migrantes tendrá una conferencia de prensa, Abril 4 a las 5pm en Lamont Plaza. Invitamos a toda la comunidad y todxs lxs aliadxs que se unan a exigir que se protejan los valores de santuario en DC. Por favor ayúdenos a pasar la voz. Empezamos el alcance mañana.
The Migrant Families Collective will hold a press conference on April 4th at 5pm at Lamont Plaza. We invite community members and allies to join us in demanding that sanctuary values be protected in DC. Please help us by spreading the word. We are starting canvassing tomorrow.”
Youth Advocacy and Research Convening
We invite you to join us for a regional Youth Advocacy and Research Convening: Empowered through Research. This is an all-day, in-person event for young people throughout the DC-Virginia-Maryland (DMV) area who are involved in advocacy and research to share work with others, learn new methods and strategies, and build networks, coalitions, and friendships.
We (The Youth Research Council) know there are so many amazing youth-driven organizations and projects working toward equity and justice in the DMV, and we want to create a space where we can learn about and from each other and strengthen our collective impact.
Please fill out this form to tell us a little about yourself and your interest in the event. We look forward to seeing you there! Feel free to send any questions you may have to yrc@gmu.edu and bethany.monea@udc.edu.
Social Housing Organizing Meeting
Join the Social Housing Working Group for its biweekly organizing meeting. Learn about its latest activities, what they're planning for the future, and how to get involved.
The Social Housing Working Group seeks to educate Metro DC DSA chapter members and the general public about social housing and to facilitate collective action in support of the passage and implementation of the Green New Deal for Housing Amendment Act.
The legislation proposes to create mixed-income, district-owned housing with market rate units that subsidize a larger number of affordable units. It's a pioneering approach that deepens affordability, invests surplus funds into the creation of more social housing, and locks-in financial sustainability. The bill also includes climate and labor standards and elected tenant boards with oversight over building management.
This event is open to both DSA Members and supporters.
Repro Justice Campaign Meeting
Join the Repro Justice campaign as we meet to discuss our upcoming events, actions, and more. We will be going over our campaign, how you can get involved! RSVP for the zoom link.
“Christ in the Rubble” Book Launch with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) invites you to the Washington DC launch of Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac’s new book “Christ in the Rubble” at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Pax Christi USA is a co-sponsor of this event.
In this impassioned and incisive book, Munther Isaac challenges mainstream Christians’ uncritical embrace of the modern state of Israel. Speaking from his unique vantage point as a prominent Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian, Rev. Isaac proclaims a truth that is rarely acknowledged in Christian circles: Israel’s campaign to eliminate the Palestinian people did not begin after October 7, 2023. Rather, the campaign is a continuation of a colonial project with 19th-century roots that has, since 1948, established systems of entrenched discrimination and segregation worse than South Africa’s apartheid regime.
Writing from Bethlehem with close-up knowledge of conditions on the ground, and rooted in a commitment to nonviolence and just peace, Isaac challenges readers to realign their beliefs and actions with Christ—who can be found not among perpetrators of violence, but with victims buried under the rubble of war.
Budget Testimony Prep for Community Members
Fair Budget Coalition will be holding 4 Testimony Prep workshops for budget oversight hearings – 2 for organizational members/paid advocates and 2 for community members/individuals.
These workshops are great for new advocates, folks who haven't testified before, and folks who want to brush up on their skills. We can help you figure out what you'd like to testify about and how to do it!
Registration links and times:
Budget Testimony Prep for Organizational Members/Paid Advocates
Fair Budget Coalition will be holding 4 Testimony Prep workshops for budget oversight hearings – 2 for organizational members/paid advocates and 2 for community members/individuals.
These workshops are great for new advocates, folks who haven't testified before, and folks who want to brush up on their skills. We can help you figure out what you'd like to testify about and how to do it!
Registration links and times:
Beehive fundraising potluck and strategy session
Join our Bee Hive fundraising community for a potluck at Baldwin House. You'll get to see the project firsthand and hang out in person with the full Bee Hive! You can sign up to join the Bee Hive fundraising sprint with this form. We'll eat, learn, strategize, and connect with other members of the Beehive. We'll gather at Baldwin House in our outdoor space (2572 Sherman Ave NW) from 6:30 pm-8:00 pm.
“Christ in the Rubble” Book Launch with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is pleased to invite you to join us on April 1, 2025 for the Washington DC launch of Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac's new book "Christ in the Rubble" at Busboys and Poets- Anacostia.
In this impassioned and incisive book, Munther Isaac challenges mainstream Christians’ uncritical embrace of the modern State of Israel. Speaking from his unique vantage point as a prominent Palestinian Christian pastor and theologian, he proclaims a truth that is rarely acknowledged in Christian circles: Israel’s campaign to eliminate the Palestinian people did not begin after October 7, 2023. Rather, the campaign is a continuation of a colonial project with nineteenth-century roots that has, since 1948, established systems of entrenched discrimination and segregation worse than South Africa’s apartheid regime.
Writing from Bethlehem with close-up knowledge of conditions on the ground, and rooted in a commitment to nonviolence and just peace, Isaac challenges readers to realign their beliefs and actions with Christ—who can be found not among perpetrators of violence, but with victims buried under the rubble of war.
Trans/Queer Liberation Bi-weekly Meeting
This is the bi-weekly meeting of Metro DC DSA's Trans/Queer Liberation Campaign. RSVP to receive the Zoom link and join us to discuss ongoing efforts such as Project Sanctuary, our Gender & Name Change Clinics, and more!
Solidarity Economy webinar and fundraiser
In May 2023, community members in DC's Shaw/U st Neighborhood successfully purchased an apartment building after two years of dedicated community organizing. Not only were they able to take the building out of the hands of the would-be corporate developer, but they are now using the space to build a community service center, or mutual aid hub, as well as permanent affordable housing.
Join members of this project, Baldwin House, to discuss how they accomplished this and what shifting our economy means for collective liberation. This virtual webinar will take place on Monday, March 31st, at 6 PM and is also a fundraiser for Baldwin House.