July 15, 2025 Newsletter
Hello Everyone!
I have been communicating with Councilmember Felder's office about scheduling a safety walk through River Terrace, and we have landed on a date and time: July 26 at 1 PM. This will be an opportunity for us to walk through the community and share more insight with the Councilmember about safety concerns we have so he and his team can start working on these issues.
Our starting location will be the gazebo in River Terrace Park.
If you think you might be able to attend, please send back an email so I can get a rough count for the day.
Thanks!
Katie
RFK
Community Discussion
Kingman Park ANC Ebony Payne is hosting At-Large CM Robert White and Ward 3 CM Matt Frumin on 7/17 at 6pm for a community discussion about the RFK development proposal. Join us in-person at St. Benedict the Moor Church, Quander Room, 320 21st St NE, enter through the back parking lot.
Testify on RFK
The DC Council is holding a public hearing about the RFK redevelopment proposal on July 29. This is an important opportunity to share your views in the official government record. To testify live, you must register by July 25 at 5pm. Testimonies may be provided in writing, via Zoom, and/or in person at the Wilson Building. More than 350 people have already signed up, and it's critical that our voices are heard in this process. If you are unable to testify live (either in person or via Zoom), you are still encouraged to submit written testimony.
Friends of Kingman Park will also be hosting a workshop on Wed, 7/23 at 7 PM to help you prepare to testify - more details to come.
How did your Councilmember vote?
Ranked Choice Voting
In the 2024 election, 73% of DC voters and 70% of Ward 7 voters supported Initiative 83 which would bring ranked-choice voting to the city. Today, DC Council voted 8-4 to back funding for Initiative 83.
Your Councilmember voted against funding to implement ranked-choice voting.
A second vote will be held in 2 weeks to determine if Independent voters will be allowed to participate in semi-open primaries.
Tipped Minimum Wage
In 2022, 74% of DC voters and 84% of Ward 7 voters supported Initiative 82 which would phase out the tipped minimum wage. Mayor Bowser included the repeal of I-82 in her 2026 budget. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George circulated an amendment that pulled the Mayor's repeal of I-82 out of the budget.
Your Councilmember voted against this amendment.
DPR Roving Leader Movie Night
Grab your blankets and chairs and join us for a showing of Minecraft.
Date: Thursday, July 17, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: River Terrace Community Basketball Court, 200 Block of Anacostia Ave NE, 20019
Note: Outdoor movies are subject to cancellation due to weather conditions. DPR will announce cancellations on X, Facebook, and via text/SMS alert. If a screening is canceled, it will not be rescheduled for a future date this summer.
Office of the Attorney General Community Forums
The forums will provide residents the opportunity to learn more about, and engage with, our office. In addition, the public will be able to voice community concerns with Attorney General Brian Schwalb and OAG leadership.
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Anacostia Neighborhood Library (1800 Marion Barry Avenue SE)
1st Time Homebuyers Workshop for Returning Citizens
Join the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs for a workshop on financial empowerment and first-time homebuyers for returning citizens! This is a walkthrough series that focuses on assisting returning citizens who want to purchase their first home and will assist individuals through the entire process.
Date: July 23, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: 815 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
RSVP: qrco.de/bg5UHQ
Trash, Recycling, and Food Waste Collections:
Due to sustained high temperatures during the summer months, please advise residents to be prepared for early trash, recycling, and food waste collection starting at 5:30 am through September 5th, 2025.
Residents are advised to place all waste materials at their point of collection the night before their scheduled collection day to ensure pickup.
Ward 7 Night at Nationals Park
We are so excited for Ward 7 Night at Nationals Park on Saturday, July 19 at 6:45PM! Please fill out the linked form with your information and how many tickets you are requesting so we can get an accurate headcount. Instructions on how to receive tickets will be distributed via your email the day before the game. If you have any questions, please call Councilmember Felder's office at 202-724-8068 or email us at ward7@dccouncil.gov.
DC Developmental Disabilities Council
What would help people with DD and their families live the life they want to live? The District of Columbia Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) is putting together its 2027 – 2031 DDC State Plan. Help us decide what to include in it!
Majic Wednesdays
Join us every Wednesday this summer for Majic Wednesdays—a FREE weekly concert series that runs through August 13 at Sycamore & Oak. Enjoy live performances from some of DC’s favorite Go-Go, R&B and Jazz artists. Come out for great music, food vendors, big prizes, local creatives, and more – all in the spirit of summer fun and community celebration. Concerts begin at 6:30 PM.
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Lotus and Water Lily Festival
Please join us for the Lotus & Water Lily Festival at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on July 18 - 20. This year’s festival is a celebration of the connections between animals, plants, the environment and our community. Admission for this event is free (no preregistration). On-site registration is required for some WELLderness activities, such as forest bathing and jewelry making. We encourage you to pack a camp chair, sunscreen, water, and anything else you may want to enjoy the day and beat the heat. Use this link to view the full schedule of events and performances.
Board Recruitment: Do you love Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens? Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is on the lookout for people who are interested in serving as Board members to help ensure good governance, strategic direction, and accountability. Together we can help care for and steward this incredible neighborhood national park! We are looking for individuals with a passion for our mission, ideally with skills in fundraising, finance, accounting, and human resources. We value diverse perspectives and backgrounds and encourage all interested individuals to apply. All interested individuals should email sheena@fokag.org.
Camp Zen
Family-friendly outdoor holistic wellness camp-themed event. Activities include: yoga, arts and crafts, food and more! This event is FREE, but registration is required.
WHEN
July 25 | 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM
At 7:30 we will begin the showing of Wicked for our Summer Movie Series.
WHERE
Gateway Pavilion at St. Elizabeths Community
DC Department of Housing and Community Development - Public Hearing for the FY 2026 Annual Action Plan
Monday, July 21, 2025 at 6:00 pm
DHCD Housing Resource Center
1909 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE
REGISTER HERE: You can register here for DHCD's FY 2026 Annual Action Plan Public Hearing.
VIRTUAL LINK: You can join the public hearing virtually here on Microsoft Teams
The public hearing will focus on the “Housing and Community Development Needs in the District of Columbia”. DHCD is interested in receiving community feedback for the District’s draft of the District of Columbia Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Action Plan and the spending priorities utilizing federal entitlement funds. The Action Plan is a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
DYRS Announces Request for Applications for Intensive Mentoring for the Oasis Youth Leadership Program
The Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) is pleased to announce the release of a Request for Applications (RFA) for an Intensive Mentoring Program for At-Risk Youth who live in communities that have experienced high rates of gun violence and crime.
This initiative demonstrates DYRS's commitment to enhancing youth prosocial attitudes, creating safe spaces for practicing these behaviors, nurturing connections with supportive adults and environments that promote their development, boost workforce participation, and inspire positive community involvement.
DYRS seeks to fund entities that deliver multifaceted programming to address the holistic needs of youth, demonstrate proven results in youth outcomes, and employ a cohort approach.
Application Details:
- The Request for Applications (RFA) will be available on the DYRS website at https://dyrs.dc.gov/page/current-funding-opportunities-0 starting July 29, 2025.
- The deadline for application submissions is Friday, August 29, 2025, at 5 pm.
- All applications must be submitted via email at DYRS.Grants@dc.gov.
- The available funding is up to $500,000 for 12 months of programming, starting on October 1, 2025.
- A copy of the RFA can be obtained through any of the following methods:
- Download from the DYRS website at https://dyrs.dc.gov/page/current-funding-opportunities-0.
- Email DYRS.Grants@dc.gov using the subject line: Request copy of Intensive Mentoring for Oasis Youth Leadership Program RFA.
- Send a request letter to 450 H Street NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20001, Attn: DYRS Grants – Intensive Mentoring for Oasis Youth Leadership Program RFA.