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Community storytelling
Important before. Important now.
We at Grassroots DC reaffirm our commitment to community power through grassroots storytelling.
In the face of the changes soon to come, we will utilize our First Amendment rights to uplift stories that need telling, stories that need to be heard, and actions that need to be taken.
Standing up to tyranny is a choice you make everyday, regardless of who's in office. Together we can be the solution and work toward what is best for our community and therefore ourselves.
At the end of the day, we keep us safe.
Alex De Bard: Colorism & Cultural Cosplay
The Bronx-born actress has made a home here in the District, just over the Anacostia, and has established herself as one of the region’s more prolific performers. Just in the last year alone you could find her in Signature’s Passing Strange, Private Jones, and most recently Hair — first in the ensemble, but finishing out in the role of Sheila. But Signature isn’t her only turf, of course: she was recently seen in Mosaic’s workshop of Postmortem, and later this year she’ll be playing Anna in a massive staging of Disney’s Frozen at Olney Theatre Center, in one of the very first productions outside of Broadway.
While her talent and range are the drivers behind these roles, there’s something else that seems to get her in the audition room that’s less eager: her skin color. Or rather, the fairness of it which creates an “exotic” ambiguity that casting directors seem to prefer. Recently she posted some thoughts about the matter to her social media story. I’ve had similar experiences in my own life, so I took some time to chat with Alex about her experiences as a mixed person in theater spaces. There is an ever-growing desire to tell diverse stories, but not always the talent pool with the lived experience to do so.
(Alex uses she/her pronouns and spells her last name with a capital D in De Bard.)
This interview was conducted with the support of Grassroots DC, an East of the River-based media organization who specializes in bringing the power of the press to marginalized groups. You can support their cause by donating here.
Representation for Ward 8 at Risk
A series of important events affecting our communities
Representation for Ward 8 residents is under attack. As you may have heard, Councilmember Trayon White (D, Ward 8) was arrested on a criminal complaint of bribery on August 18th. The claim alleges that White accepted payments in exchange for the extension of contracts with the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE). The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the FBI, the D.C. Office of the Inspector General, and the IRS Criminal Investigation Washington Field Office.
Not unlike many other council members who have been involved in scandals and/or criminally charged, Trayon White is not perfect. The violence interruption programs that he supports are being credited for reducing crime and violence in Ward 8. If fully supported, they could transform policing to one that is more community-based. An increase in the number of violence interrupters may also result in a decrease in the need for the current number of patrol officers in the areas, something that the Office of the DC Auditor’s MPD audit suggests is needed. Trayon White’s involvement in a potential bribery case could jeopardize those programs. What's more consequential, is that the case could leave Ward 8 without DC council representation, in a city filled with residents who are not given equal representation in congress.
On Monday, September 9th at 7pm many residents of Ward 8 and the city at-large signed into a virtual community town hall hosted by Harriet’s Wildest Dreams (HWD) titled “What’s at Stake for Ward 8”. The meeting was facilitated by HWD’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, NeeNee Taylor and HWD Policy Organizer, Jillian Burford. Who, after grounding the meeting in the organization's principles, gave the virtual floor to Councilmember Robert White (D, At-large) to go over what will and may happen next in regards to Trayon White’s seat on the DC Council and several committees.
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Many mainstream media outlets are reporting as though Trayon is sure to be found guilty but during the community town hall many called for reminders that we are all innocent until proven guilty in this country. As an elected official, he continues to represent Ward 8 until voters decide otherwise. Federal charges don't change that immediately, and with an upcoming election, we'll soon find out who Ward 8 residents choose to represent them.
Deadly Exchange: What Does Israel Have To Do With MPD?
As of March 2024 there have been 140 Black people killed by D.C. police since 2013. The department has been accused of using other racially biased tactics such as stop and frisk, and jump out units. Jump-Out squads aren’t the only police units committing brutal acts against Washingtonians. A mandated MPD report revealed that Black people made up the majority of people who were stopped, frisked, arrested, and violated by special units in 2019 and 2020. These units are a part of the Narcotics and Specialized Investigations Division; officers usually wear plain clothes, and their duties are to remove illegal guns from the streets and handle investigations dealing with narcotics.
After the launch of the Law Enforcement Exchange programs, U.S. Law enforcement continues to intensify the militarization of its agencies, most notably through the 1033 Program. This program was created to supply U.S. police departments with surplus military equipment ranging from weapons to uniform gear. In the last decade, protestors have been met with local police agencies dressed in riot gear. MPD is among the many U.S. police departments that have had to settle large sum civil lawsuits against its officers for misconduct, excessive force, unlawful arrests, and unjust murders. In 2021, D.C. chose to settle two lawsuits in the amount $1.6 million dollars for police misconduct during the infamous 2017 Inaugural protests aka J-20. Wards 7 & 8 are often referred to as police “occupied territories”, similar to Gaza and the West Bank being occupied by IDF soldiers and Israel Border Patrol agents.
The IDF (Israel Defense Force) is a military style unit within the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza. The atrocities committed by the IDF against Palestinians have been well documented since its inception. This same unit is one of the security entities responsible for training U.S. Law Enforcement agencies. The IDF is also referred to as “IOF: Israel Occupying Forces” by its critics, Palestinians, and activists. The INP (Israel National Police), is the police force that was established the same year as the beginning of the Nakaba.
In the beginning half of 2023, the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement and Black Lives Matter D.C. hosted several hybrid “Cop Watch'' trainings, one was held at the Black Worker Wellness Center located in Southeast, D.C. Impacted communities are becoming more experimental with creating alternatives to policing that are grounded in love, community self-defense, and autonomy. Providing a glimmer of hope in a world of doom.
The Healing Outlet App
When a young black man in Washington, D.C., lost his life to violence, Charnal Chaney felt the tragedy was preventable. “We had two government agencies in that neighborhood, over a billion dollars in resources. I feel like he should still be here.”
This conviction led Chaney, founder of Bold Yoga, and Katherine Russell, founder of Transformative Justice Solutions, to create The Healing Outlet. “We realized that there’s already a lot of great work being done, it’s just that it’s not being coordinated and we’re not working together,” Chaney said in a video with Russell in which they describe their vision for the app.
“People need resources now, so another big part of this app is being able to instantly connect people to others who are grieving and resources on how to cope with the losses that neighborhoods are feeling, that schools are feeling…the effects and the trauma [of gun violence] impact everybody in the vicinity,” Russell states.
Don’t Throw DC Under the Crimnibus
On Feb 6, the DC Council had their first vote on the Crimnibus aka Councilmember Pinto and Mayor Bowser’s “Secure DC” Omnibus in their legislative meeting. While this hyper-racist crime bill passed the first vote, HUNDREDS of you called & emailed and PACKED the Council meeting, resulting in some critical harmful provisions being removed from the bill!
These harm reduction amendments are an important win. Unfortunately, many dangerous provisions still remain and the second and FINAL vote is coming up on March 5th. But we know the community pressure is working!
So, please join us and take action to stop the crimnibus!
Join Grassroots DC for our Media Literacy Workshop!
Join Grassroots DC for our Media Literacy Workshop!
In the workshop we will:
- Learn how to make mainstream media work for you
- Deconstruct the way that local news reports on issues that affect our communities
- Understand when and why the news gets it wrong
- Learn how to convince local news producers to pay attention to issues they normally ignore and include perspectives they usually omit
After Explosion - Anacostia Child Care Center & Parents Need Immediate Support
Baby Einstein Child Development Center has served children 6 weeks to 5 years old and their families in the Anacostia neighborhood for over 10 years. D.C. is the most difficult city in the country to find and afford childcare in D.C. The Center’s Director, Ms. Regina Snead is working very hard to support these children and families because she cares about them deeply, but also knows how crucial having childcare immediately is.
These families cannot afford to be without childcare. They have to go to work. Being able to take leave, or miss work and maintain employment, especially over an extended time period is not an option.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
CONTACT DC OFFICIALS - HELP THE CENTER FIND A SPACE
The center needs to secure a space to relocate IMMEDIATELY. The community can reach out to the following officials to strongly urge them to make sure space is made available immediately:
Anacostia Community Members Save Lives During Gas Leak and Explosion
Around 10:00 AM, on Thursday, January 18, 2024, an Anacostia community member called 911 about a gas leak near the DanAkil Convenience Store on Marion Barry Avenue SE. Next door to the convenience store is the Baby Einstein Child Development Center. The staff at the childcare center quickly began packing up all of the children and rushed them to safety at a local business outside of the safety zone before the Fire/EMS arrived.
Beyond Vietnam -- A Time to Break Silence
“One of Dr. King's most radical speeches, given at Riverside Church in Manhattan, 1967.
This is the speech that linked war, poverty and corrupt economics. This is the speech that talked about America being " the greatest purveyor of violence in the world" and on "the wrong side of a world revolution." This is perhaps the speech that helped get him killed--assassinated exactly one year to the day after delivering it.”
What’s going on at Ridgecrest?
Conversation about the Residents of Ridgecrest's housing struggle from WPFW and Empower DC’s Taking Action on Tuesday, September 26th, 2023 at 1:30pm.
Follow along with Grassroots DC’s reporting to see what happens next with the resident’s of Ridgecrest Community Campagin.
Join us on the lawn at 4000 E St. SE Washington, DC 20019 on Saturday September 30th at 11am for the launch of the Ridgecrest Community Campagin to take back control of the condominiums!
What is A Slum condo?
Josh and Liane discuss the concept of a slum condo by exploring what’s happening at Ridgecrest Condominiums. This segment was played on WPFW’s Voices with Vision on Tuesday, September 26th, 2023 from 9am to 10am.
Follow along with Grassroots DC’s reporting to see what happens next with the resident’s of Ridgecrest Community Campagin.
Join us on the lawn at 4000 E St. SE Washington, DC 20019 on Saturday September 30th at 11am for the launch of the Ridgecrest Community Campagin to take back control of the condominiums!
Biden administration called upon to end racial discrimination in D.C. public schools
D.C. government does not require schools to educate black students as well as white students according to a complaint submitted to the U.S. Department of Education by a D.C. resident.
Note from the editor:
This complaint was submitted just two days before the release of the Supreme Court’s decision on Affirmative Action admissions to universities. The author of this complaint, Jeff Schmidt, is a long-time DC resident and father of a student who graduated from DC public schools and then went on to graduate from college. Schmidt is a boomer, cisgender, white man, with a PhD in physics from the University of California, Irvine, who takes an active volunteer role in assisting DC public school science and math teachers in creating better curriculum.
It’s entirely possible for a student to get a good education in the DC public school system but it’s no easy task. According to the NCES’s National Report Card, only 17% of DCPS 8th graders are proficient at math.
After reading DC’s Education ESSA Plan, he sent the following letter of complaint to the US Department of Education. In it, he asks that they consider applying the same standards used in schools and classrooms with significant numbers of white students to every school and each student. Why don’t we do that? Why should we accept year in and year out that Black kids and white kids won’t be treated equally? Long after Brown v Board of Education, racism in DC public schools continues to be baked into the system.
Brookland manor news round up
Residents and local organizers are concerned that this project will displace many working class and low-income families, specifically larger ones.
Migrants bussed to dc helped by local organizations
The Migrant Solidarity Network is a coalition of Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, Sanctuary DMV, Peace House DC*, and others. They want migrants to experience a humane transition to living in DC. Their focus is to provide immediate support regardless of government regulations. They provided tickets for migrants to further destinations, along with placement at volunteers' houses.
DEON KAY ZINE
Zine on the killing of Deon Kay by MPD officers. #stopkillingchocolatecity
A Resident’s Guide to the DC Budget
Because of a long history of racist policies and practices, DC’s Black and brown residents experience more job discrimination, inadequate access to health care, and a lack of affordable housing. Using the budget to prevent evictions, adequately fund all public schools, and get health care and cash to those who need it are just a few ways lawmakers can transform DC into a more equitable community where everyone can live well.
Outwrite DC Review
For those of us who call the DMV area home, we have the annual OutWrite DC Literary Festival. A project within The DC Center for the LGBT Community’s Center Arts programming, OutWrite DC has been creating space for writers who are non-hetero and trans since 2010.
MPD: Stop Killing Chocolate city zine
Affordable Housing in the District
With inflation rising more households are on verge of being displaced. The cost to live in the District is rising rapidly without properly being addressed.
DC has had issues with housing for years and has made slight improvements. Many residents have relocated due to waiting for assistance.