Join Harriet’s Wildest Dreams and BYP100 for Transness in Bloom: A Black Trans Brunch on Sunday, May 25 from 1 to 5 PM in Washington, DC. As attacks on trans and gender non-conforming people continue, we are gathering in joy, resistance, and community care. This event is part of our Resistance and Resilience series, honoring the beauty and evolution of Black trans life outside the confines of the white supremacist gender binary.

Enjoy good food, music from our DJ, and the safety of a Black, queer, autonomous space. The brunch will take place on the first floor of the venue. We ask attendees to test for COVID-19 beforehand, and stay home if feeling sick or testing positive. Masks are encouraged and will be provided, and air purifiers will be on site.

To attend, email info@harrietsdreams.org Space is limited.

Come Flow with us — Yoga Classes benefiting Baldwin House! Join us on May 24th and 31st at 10:30 am at Wangari Gardens for an all-level Flow Class hosted by Margreta Welch! No registration is required, but sliding scale donations to Baldwin House are welcome Bring your own mat and we'll see you there

A landmark of the LA Rebellion, Bless Their Little Hearts is a raw, deeply moving portrait of Black working-class life, capturing one man's struggle with unemployment, pride, and family in 1980s Los Angeles.

$13 per ticket (though DSA members have access to a limited number of free tickets to be distributed on a first come first serve basis.)

On May 22 at 5 p.m., union leaders and workers across the DC area will rally at Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC, to demand justice and due process for SMART apprentice Kilmar Abrego Garcia and workers nationwide.

• Time: Rally starts at 5 p.m.

• Location: Freedom Plaza, 1325 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004

• Speakers: SMART General President Michael Coleman, labor leaders

The disappearance of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador is not just a cruel and unlawful attack on our union brother and his family. It’s a violation of Kilmar's constitutional right to due process — threatening the rights of every working American and undermining one of the pillars of our democracy.

Unions know that an injury to one is an injury to all, and an attack on the rights of Kilmar and others will lead to everyone’s rights being stripped next. If due process can be taken from one person, it can be taken from all of us. That’s why leaders and workers are rallying on Thursday, May 22, to demand justice and due process — for Kilmar and for all of us.

Join DCPCA and DC's Federally Qualified Health Centers in a rally for community health on the steps of the DC Council Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to let our policymakers know that we need to protect access to care! We'll be on the front steps wearing hundreds of bead necklaces representing all 184,662 patients we served in 2024!

Joint 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.

The Labor Heritage Foundation and AFI Silver’s2025 DC Labor FilmFest continues through May. (Metro DC DSA is a co-sponsor.) Don’t miss out on a dozen powerful films about workers and their stories — including LILLY, NINE TO FIVE, and STRIKE — screening at the AFI Silver at the 25th edition of the annual festival. The screenings will reveal powerful storytelling that honors the dignity, struggle, and spirit of working people. The Labor Working Group has been given a limited number of FREE TICKETS which will be distributed to DSA members who attend labor actions in the coming weeks.

Among the upcoming showings is the documentary Singing for Justice about folk musician and activist Faith Petric, which will screen Monday, May 19, at 6:30pm at New Deal Café. Petric used folk music to inspire action and solidarity at civil rights marches, anti-war protests, and events supporting labor and LGBTQ+ rights. “In times of darkness, Faith showed that a well-sung song could light the way forward,” says Estelle Freedman, director of the film, who will attend the screening. Elise Bryant, DC Labor Chorus Director, will lead the post-film discussion. The acclaimed DC Labor Chorus will also perform. If unable to attend the free film in-person, register to watch via Zoom. Please note the earlier start time.

All organizational and community members of DecrimPovertyDC are invited to an in-person gathering alongside members of the previous non-police crisis response movement in D.C. for a joint interest and visioning session where we will discuss the possibility of jointly relaunching a campaign to fight for non-police crisis response, 24/7 harm reduction centers (w/ safe consumption), robust drug checking services, and identify ways we can still advance aspects of drug decrim in this political climate. This meeting is structured so we can reacquaint ourselves with each other and collectively think through what is possible in these times. 

Tenants at the Oaklawn have been on RENT STRIKE! for nearly a year, fighting for their landlord to fix the recurring mold, pest problems, collapsing ceilings, and other issues. Come out to Landlord-Tenant Court on Monday, May 19 at 9:30 am to show your support for our first two tenants who are going to trial. Coffee and snacks will be provided.

Join us for a silent auction of art and crafted items from over 30 DMV-based makers! All funds raised will go toward Baldwin House, a tenant-owned affordable housing co-op and mutual aid hub located on Sherman Ave in NW DC. Learn more about Baldwin House here: https://baldwin-house.org/ Entrance to the auction is a sliding scale donation with all proceeds to Baldwin House - we recommend $15-$25!

“Up from the People: Protest and Change in D.C.” is an exhibition at DC’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. The exhibit looks at protest movements throughout DC’s history — including the mass movement in the 1960s and 1970s that eventually won DC home rule.

Join Free DC for a guided tour of the exhibit. We’ll learn about movement history that is featured in the exhibit and will have an opportunity to ask questions. After the tour we’ll spend time discussing what we learned and how it might inform Free DC’s organizing.

Metro DC DSA Book Exchange, Street Team, and After the Storm are tabling at the first annual DMV Anarchist Bookfair on Saturday, May 17 from 2 – 8pm at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church in NW DC. Come out for a day of workshops — including a flash fiction-writing workshop on social housing from After the Storm at 7pm — book and zine vendors, artists, and music. The DMV Anarchist Bookfair will be an inclusive and accessible space where authors, publishers, activists, and community members come together to explore alternative perspectives, exchange ideas, and question conventional notions of power and authority. Attendees are required to wear masks, which will be provided at the event.

Join comrades in this anti-eviction canvas! Come out and inform tenants facing eviction of their rights in court, how to get a lawyer, and to see if they're interested in organizing their building. Tenants we speak to are twice as likely to go to court and fight their eviction, so every volunteer can make a big impact.

We’ll meet at the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station on the D street exit between 6th and 7th above the escalators (if the weather is bad, we'll be downstairs just before the turnstiles). At 1:30 PM we’ll have a short training to explain why these canvasses are necessary, how to talk to tenants about their upcoming eviction suits, and how to fill in walk-sheets. We’ll then hand out walk-sheets and set you up with a partner — if you’ve never done this before, we’ll try to set you up with a veteran who can show you the ropes!

If you have a car, please drive it down to the meeting spot! Cars are helpful for getting canvassers to metro-inaccessible areas. (Parking near L’Enfant Plaza is a bit tricky, but doable!) If you’re interested in our work but can’t canvass, reach out to tenants@mdcdsa.org to learn about other ways to get involved.

13th Street Block Party is a space for neighbors to connect and celebrate the power of community. Rooted in the spirit of mutual aid, 13th Street Block Party offers not only music, arts, and activities—but also opportunities to share resources, uplift local voices, and build networks of care amidst unprecedented threats to our collective safety.

Baldwin House will be tabling with baked goods from 2 - 10 pm, come say hi!

Free DC is building a people-powered movement rooted in joy, resistance, and love for the District. We're rising up to demand dignity for our communities and claim our right to self-determination.

GOGO FREE DC is a day for all eight wards to come together and move our bodies to the GoGo beat, uplift each other, and learn how to protect and defend Home Rule.

We Keep Us Safe. We Keep Us Free.

P.S. You must register to gain entrance into the Event. Location details will be shared upon registering.

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.

Join us on May 17th at 10:30 am to discuss financial and regulatory concepts that are key to your building’s long term success. We will discuss the difference between long term asset management and property management, what goes into formulating an annual budget, and how to plan for staying in compliance with any requirements put in place by lenders or city funding.

This training will:

• Explain the concept of Asset Management and how it relates to Property Management

• Define the roles of Property Managers, Asset Managers, and Board Members in executing an asset management plan

• Review sample annual budgets

• Describe how to plan ahead financially

• Identify common compliance issues, who is responsible for non-compliance, and how to create a compliance schedule and budget

Training Details:

Date: May 17, 2025

Time: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

Location: 3232 Georgia Ave NW, Washington DC, 20012 (Get directions)

On Saturday May 17, we will be a stop on Adams Morgan’s annual “Mother of All Yard Sales.”

Stop by between 9-1 to buy our stuff and support our formation of a limited-equity co-op!!

It’s time to live your THEATER KID dreams. Introducing: Campy Comrades

A one-night-only musical theater variety show slash summer camp experience—for grownups. Get ready for a night of musical theater complete with a talent show, sing-alongs, improv games, costumes, camp vibes, and community joy! Want to perform in the talent show? Sign up here!

All proceeds from this event will directly support Baldwin House. Want to attend as an audience member slash camper? Send a sliding scale donation between $5-$15 to with your name and “Campy Comrades tickets” to reserve your spot! Venmo: @danielle-mccormick-2 Paypal: dmccorm9@gmail.com Zelle: 240-731-4244

We are inviting DC to show up and out to send a message to the council that they must Choose us - and that means fighting to fund our housing. Join us in community on Thursday, May 15, from 5:30-8:30 pm to enjoy refreshments, hear from DC Council members, share your knowledge and experience, and ask questions.

Please be sure to RSVP to receive up to date event info!

Why we're hosting a town hall: The purpose of this event is to bring together impacted residents, local service providers, advocates, organizers, and policymakers to discuss the housing priorities most important to us and our communities. Town halls with our elected officials allow us to practice community accountability. Last year we did not get the housing budget that we deserve, that neighbors all across the District rely on to survive. Now, we’re facing an unprecedented budget season and even more cuts, and we know that protections of housing-related programs will be more needed than ever.

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Other info: Food, drinks, Spanish interpretation, and childcare will be provided! Please share this invite with your colleagues, friends, neighbors, and broader communities. We'll be sending additional details in the weeks to come, and look forward to seeing y'all there!

Have any questions or accessibility needs to flag? Reach out to Sophia!

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Invitamos a DC a participar y enviar un mensaje al consejo: deben elegirnos, lo que implica luchar por financiar nuestras viviendas. Únase a nosotros en comunidad el jueves 15 de mayo, de 5:30 p. m. a 8:30 p. m., para disfrutar de un refrigerio, escuchar a los miembros del Consejo de DC, compartir sus conocimientos y experiencias, y hacer preguntas.

¡Asegúrese de confirmar su asistencia para recibir información actualizada del evento!

Por qué organizamos una asamblea comunitaria: El propósito de este evento es reunir a residentes afectados, proveedores de servicios locales, defensores, organizadores y legisladores para debatir las prioridades de vivienda más importantes para nosotros y nuestras comunidades. Las asambleas comunitarias con nuestros funcionarios electos nos permiten ejercer la responsabilidad comunitaria. El año pasado no obtuvimos el presupuesto de vivienda que merecemos, del que dependen los vecinos de todo el Distrito para sobrevivir. Ahora, nos enfrentamos a una temporada presupuestaria sin precedentes y a aún más con recortes, y sabemos que la protección de los programas relacionados con la vivienda será más necesaria que nunca.

Información adicional: ¡Se ofrecerá comida, bebidas, interpretación al español y cuidado de niños! Por favor, comparta esta invitación con sus colegas, amigos, vecinos y demás miembros de la comunidad. Les enviaremos más detalles en las próximas semanas. ¡Esperamos verlos allí!

¿Tiene alguna pregunta o necesita ayuda con la accesibilidad? Contacte con Sophia@fairbudget.org.

Join the DC Guaranteed Income Coalition for our monthly general meeting. We’ll share updates, collaborate on upcoming projects, and continue building momentum for guaranteed income in DC.

Join the Repro Justice campaign as we meet to discuss our upcoming events, actions, and more. This week, EC4DC will be doing a tabling training in place of our regular meeting! This meeting will be recorded in part to record the tabling training for future use. Join us for one of the steps towards of our initiative to spread EC kits throughout DSA! RSVP for the zoom link.

Reach out to bawg@mdcdsa.org with any questions.

The people of DC deserve dignity and respect — but that's not what this Congress has given us. Free DC is a new campaign setting out to build the power it will take to protect our people and our communities from a hostile administration.

Join this Campaign Orientation for an overview of what this effort is all about, our plan to win, and how you can be part of it.

Join MDC DSA Labor for our May 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.

The Constitution guarantees some rights, but how do you know what is relevant? The fact that we have rights does not always mean that the police will respect them. That’s why it’s important for you to know your risks, too.

When we are protesting or otherwise interacting with law enforcement, knowing our rights is an important part of staying safe. And vocally asserting our rights is part of assess risk and can make it harder for police to violate our rights.

Join this training with Free DC and the National Lawyers Guild to learn best practices for interacting with law enforcement in-the-moment. You’ll also learn what information to consider in advance in order to assess risk and prepare for possible police encounters.

This Mother’s Day season, we’re celebrating freedom with style. Join Life After Release and Harriet’s Wildest Dreams for our first annual Sneaker Ball! Enjoy a night of Black joy, community, and celebration in honor of the mamas and caregivers we’ve brought home throughout the year’s Black Mama’s Day Bailout.

This year’s theme is Red Carpet, so come ready to serve looks—formal wear meets fresh kicks. Expect music (GOGO), dancing, and a celebration worthy of our people. Feeling fly? Let us know if you want to enter the Best Dressed Contest when you arrive!

Civil Rights historian and the first Black Mayor of Derry bring the Selma–Derry connection to the forefront

In Good Trouble, Forest Issac Jones draws on firsthand interviews to show how the Black freedom movement in the U.S. shaped Northern Ireland’s civil rights fight. From Selma to the Bogside, he follows the people who marched, organized and resisted—across borders and generations.

Now, in conversation with Lilian Seenoi Barr—Derry’s first Black mayor and a leading voice for justice—Jones explores what solidarity looked like then, and what it demands now.

In Good Trouble: The Selma, Alabama and Derry, Northern Ireland Connection 1963–1972, Jones uncovers the influence of the Selma to Montgomery marches on the 1969 Belfast to Derry march through intimate oral histories. He speaks with movement figures on both sides of the Atlantic—from Dr. Sheyann Webb-Christburg and Richard Smiley in Alabama, to Billy McVeigh and Eamonn McCann in Derry. The result is a rare, dual-perspective account of two liberation movements in dialogue.

Did your electricity bill spike in January? Were your gas bills higher than ever this winter? You're not alone. Utility bills are going up in the DMV, thanks to asleep-at-the-wheel regulators, a regional grid prioritizing fossil fuels over renewables, and for-profit utility monopolies rigging the system against ratepayers like you.

Join We Power DC, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, and Sunrise Movement DC for a seminar on why exactly utility bills are spiking in the District and what you can do about it!

This event is an online webinar -- RSVP for the Zoom link. It is open to all!