Mayor Bowser Awards Over $2 Million to Support Immigrant Rights
 On Tuesday, September 24, 2019, Mayor Bowser announced that her Administration will provide Immigrant Justice Legal Services (IJLS) grant funding to 22 community-based programs that offer legal services for immigrants in Washington, DC. Mayor Bowser’s Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) budget increased her Administration’s IJLS funding by $1.6 million, for a total investment of $2.5 million for FY20. For the first time, the IJLS grant program will assist residents who are in removal proceedings but are not detained for serious criminal offenses.
“Washington, DC remains committed to protecting our residents, and this year’s expanded investment allows us to partner with more community organizations to assist residents with a wide range of issues,” said Mayor Bowser. “The IJLS grant program advances our DC values as a proud sanctuary city as we continue to help hundreds of Washingtonians become US citizens.”
The IJLS grant program offers legal services and resources to immigrant residents and their family members, and the program complements other community grant programs run by the various constituent service offices and the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants.
Learn more
Open Streets DC
 Join Mayor Muriel Bowser for the District's inaugural Open Streets DC along Georgia Ave. NW between Barry Pl. NW and Missouri Ave. NW. Nearly three miles of the avenue will be closed to motor-vehicle traffic, allowing residents to walk, bike along and in the roadway and enjoy a wide range of activities for all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. The event is happening rain or shine!
When: Saturday, October 5, 2019 | 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Where: Georgia Ave. NW between Barry Pl. NW and Missouri Ave. NW
RSVP here
Braiding Bootcamp, hosted by MOAA and DCRA
 Thinking about establishing or enhancing your hair braiding business? Join the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs and the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs at Braiding Boot Camp to learn about business licensing, the regulation renewal process, and small business legal information. Don’t miss a unique opportunity to connect with other hair braiders in the District and get tools to set your hair braiding business up for success.
When: Friday, October 25, 2019 | 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Where: Aisha Hair Braiding | 7323 Georgia Ave NW #100 | Washington, DC | 20012
Learn more
In Case You Missed It...KanKouran 36th Annual Concert and Conference: A Visit to Africa
 KanKouran’s 36th Annual conference and concert, “Visit to Africa,” was from August 30th to September 1st. Featuring multiple performances and classes from renowned singers, dancers, and musicians across Africa, the extravaganza showcased traditional Africa dancing and drumming, taking the audience on a journey into the rich history and deep traditions of Africa.
Missed KanKouran2019? Watch videos on Twitter and Instagram @KanKouranDance.
The Mayor’s Office on African Affairs is proud to support KanKouran West African Dance Company and its “Visit to Africa” conference and concert through the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs’ FY19 African Community Grant. “Visit to Africa” preserves and promotes traditional West African culture by providing quality entertainment and educational programs.
Learn more
Mayor Bowser Rolls Out Fair Shot Investments
 On Tuesday, October 1, 2019, the first day of the new fiscal year, Mayor Bowser began rolling out the investments made in her Fiscal Year 2020 Fair Shot budget. In addition to these investments, the DC Government is processing cost of living adjustments for DC Government employees; non-union DC Government employees will receive a three percent increase and the amount for union employees will vary depending on approved negotiations.
“In crafting our budget, we focused on making investments that will continue building pathways to the middle class and making our city’s prosperity more inclusive,” said Mayor Bowser. “I look forward to working with the Council on implementing the budget effectively and getting investments out the door and into the community.”
Affordable Housing
Mayor Bowser remains committed to ensuring residents across the income spectrum have access to high-quality, affordable housing. The Fiscal Year 2020 budget includes historic investments in the District’s funds to build and preserve affordable housing - $116 million for the Housing Production Trust Fund (up from $100 million in FY19) and $11.5 million for the Housing Preservation Fund (up from $10 million in FY19). The budget also includes $250,000 for the Historic Homeowner Grant Program, which will help low- and moderate-income households living in specific historic districts renovate and maintain their homes. Grants of up to $25,000 will be made available, except in the Anacostia Historic District where the maximum is $35,000.
Learn more
Mayor Bowser Launches “Flip The Script” Campaign to Highlight Positive Images of Men of Color
On Friday, September 27, 2019, Mayor Bowser announced the start of “Flip The Script,” a positive visual campaign aimed to dispel common myths about men of color and combat negative imagery that frequent the media. The #FlipTheScript campaign, developed by Mayor’s Office on Fathers, Men and Boys and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education strives to disrupt societal norms of how men and boys of color are perceived and how they perceive themselves.
“All too often, we see men of color in media and elsewhere represented in a negative light – this campaign gives us the opportunity to change the narrative and tell the real stories of men of color as role models in our communities,” said Mayor Bowser. “We’re encouraging residents to share their images as fathers, husbands, and mentors and join us in flipping the script.”
The initiative will highlight positive imagery of black and Hispanic fathers with their children in ads posted at Metro stations, on buses, and on train cars throughout the District. The stations include Farragut West, L’Enfant Plaza, Anacostia, Benning Road, Eastern Market, Columbia Heights, and others.
Learn more
Kith/Kin’s First Late-Night Market Aims to Raise the Profile of West African Food
Tonight on the Southwest waterfront, Kwame Onwuachi will shuttle party bowls of tomato-tinted jollof rice and beef suya skewers out of the kitchen at Kith/Kin while Afrobeats bump from speakers, party-goers browse T-shirts with Nigerian designs, and big-name D.C. chefs who typically cook Korean, Filipino, and hyper-local Mid-Atlantic dishes plate up new creations full of West African ingredients.
Onwuachi, the James Beard award winner, memoirist, and subject of an upcoming biopic, is turning his Afro-Caribbean restaurant in the Wharf development into a late-night African market for the evening. Onwuachi is celebrating Kith/Kin’s second anniversary, and he’s hoping the friends he’s recruited to cook out of their comfort zones will help draw a crowd that might not know much about egusi stew.
“We have a lot of food events around the city. We don’t have a lot dedicated to African food or the celebration of it,” Onwuachi says. “I wanted to bring that to the forefront.”
Learn more
Little Ethiopia’ making a name for itself in Las Vegas
The woody aroma of frankincense envelops Melkam Market, an Ethiopian store just west of the Strip on Decatur Boulevard. The floors are covered in green lentils, a common practice for those who observe Tsome Filseta, a period of fasting in Ethiopian Orthodox Christian tradition.
On the shelves are containers of staples in Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine, items such as chickpea powder, spices, and Ethiopian products like Tomoca coffee beans. A package of Tomoca costs $18, which manager Salem Tigabu says people are willing to pay top dollar for because the item reminds them of home.
The establishment, which opened less than a year ago, is one of dozens of Ethiopian-owned businesses in Little Ethiopia, a designation discussed Tuesday by Clark County.
Nevada Assemblyman Alexander Assefa, who was elected last summer and believed to be the first Ethiopian-American elected to public office in the United States, was a driving force in getting the area between Tropicana Avenue and Spring Mountain Road the official designation. He’s the first African immigrant to serve in an elected office in Nevada.
Learn more
Job Seekers Clinic
Looking for a job? Staff are available to assist with a variety of job search activities including building and typing your resume, conducting online job searches, and completing online job applications.
When: Monday, October 7, 2019 | 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Where: Southeast Library | 403 7th St SE | Washington, DC | 20003
Learn more
English Conversation Circle
 A drop-in group for adult speakers of other languages to improve their oral skills in English and gain more confidence in speaking. Participants should have at least a working knowledge of English.
When: Monday, October 7, 2019 | 10:00 am
Where: Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Library | 1630 7th St. NW | Washington, DC | 20001
Learn more
Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders 2020 (Fully-funded)
 The Mandela Washington Fellowship will bring up to 700 young leaders to the United States in the summer of 2020 for a comprehensive executive-style program that is designed to build skills and empower Fellows to lead in their respective sectors and communities. The application is now open and will close on October 9, 2019.
Learn more
Habitat for Humanity of Washington, DC- Home$mart Program: Life After Settlement
Home$mart - In the City is Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C.'s new Post-Purchase Education program with certified counselors, designed to give local homeowners the tools they need to be successful and thrive. Learn about sustainability/foreclosure, financial capability/credit & budgeting, and home maintenance & repairs/going green in the home. This course is a three in one class and attendees must stay all day to receive a certificate. Breakfast and boxed lunch will be provided with proof of homeownership. To register, please email olive.idehen@dchabitat.org.
When: Saturday, October 12, 2019 | 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Where: Capitol View Library| 5001 Central Ave SE | Washington, D.C. 20019
Learn more
Auditions for CityDance DREAM
 CityDance DREAM is a tuition-free dance program offering students specialized training, rich performance opportunities and strong connections to the professional dance world.
We're looking for students who...
- Demonstrate enthusiasm and a love for dance
- Have an interest in dance training
- Are in 3rd through 11th grade
- Reside in Washington, DC
- Have financial need
When: Saturday, October 12, 2019 | 3rd - 5th grade: 11am - 1:30pm | 6th - 8th grade: 1:30 - 4pm | 9th - 11th grade: 3:30 - 6pm
Where: DREAM School for Dance | 2001 10th Street NW | Washington, DC | 20001
Register to Exhibit at the Multilingual Education Fair of DC
Calling all exhibitors and sponsors! Now in its fourth year, the Multilingual Education Fair of DC, organized by the DC Language Immersion Project in partnership with the education institutions of the DC region, is the premier event for families, young professionals, teachers and administrators gathering to celebrate multilingualism. The fair welcomes over 1500 visitors from DC, Virginia, and Maryland looking to gain and improve linguistic skills, cultural competence and find language-related job opportunities. Join us on January 25th, 2020 from 10 am to 3 pm, with an exhibitors-only networking event from 3-4 pm. For questions, please contact johanna@dcimmersion.org.
Exhibitor Registration (Deadline November 1st)
Learn more
Carlos Rosario School: Community Language Classes - Amharic
 Join the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) at its sixth annual Parent and Family Engagement Summit, to learn how families can engage as partners in education and to receive support and resources to ensure families have access to high-quality education for their children. The event is FREE for all DC parents and families to attend. Breakfast and lunch will be served.
When: Saturday, September 28, 2019 | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Where: Washington Convention Center | 801 Mount Vernon Place NW | Washington, DC | 20001
Learn more
Are you interested in learning Amharic? Know someone who is? The Carlos Rosario School's Community Language Classes are a way to develop skills to connect with your clients and community members! This is an introductory level class for students who have never studied Amharic. You will learn the basics of the alphabet, vocabulary, and grammar necessary to have simple conversations. Ethiopian cultural considerations and traditions will also be covered.
Learn more
Young at Art Weekly Seniors Program
 Promoting healthy aging through the arts and creative expression, Young at Art allows seniors aged 55+ to explore activities in painting, drawing, ceramics, and crafts. This free, weekly hands-on, instructor-led program goes beyond the traditional “arts and crafts” activities; allowing participants create original works of art that articulate the richness of their life experience.
Learn more
Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five, Parent Survey
 Attention DC families! Are you a parent or guardian of a child 5 years old or younger? We want to hear from you! Tell us about your experiences with different programs, services and benefits by taking a survey and you can enter into a random drawing to win a $100 gift card! You can complete the survey in Amharic or French.
GED and High School Skills Tutoring
Join DC Public Library for skill assessments for adults who need a high school diploma (GED or National External Diploma) and tutoring for those with skills at the high school level. Tutoring takes place on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4 to 7 pm Assessments take place on Wednesdays only.
Please note: In order to qualify for tutoring, you must take the assessment first.
When: Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays | 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Library | 1630 7th St. NW | Washington, DC | 20001
Learn more
Want Your Event Featured in the African Beat?
'The African Beat' is distributed to over 8,000 subscribers every other Friday. If you would like your event to be featured in our newsletter, please submit the following details: what, when & where, and provide a link to where readers can go for more information. Submission deadline for the next edition is Wednesday, October 18, 2019 by 5:00 pm. Send all materials, along with any questions, to oaa@dc.gov.
|
