DC BUDGET AUTONOMY REFERENDUM PASSED ON APRIL 23 TO ALLOW THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TO CONTROL ITS OWN LOCAL BUDGET WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL INTERFERENCE
On April 23, 2013, there was a special election in the District of Columbia. One of the issues voted on was "Proposed Charter Amendment VIII," also known as "Referendum 8," which would amend the District's Home Rule Charter to allow the city to spend locally raised funds prior to a congressional appropriation. Currently, the District of Columbia is the only city or jurisdiction in the U.S. which needs congressional approval before spending a penny of its local tax dollars.
Among other things, enactment of this referendum means that the city would be able to establish its own fiscal year, and would not be held hostage to the federal fiscal year budget cycle, which runs from October 1 to September 30. This is especially important for the D.C. school system, which must currently begin every school year without being able to accurately budget for the year ahead. Most other jurisdictions have a fiscal year which runs from July 1 – June 30. Other advantages of allowing the District budget autonomy are that it would allow D.C. to continue to operate during federal shutdowns and to sell bonds at better rates. The lack of budget autonomy has persisted despite complaints from local officials, and agreement from national leaders in both parties, that it is unfair and impractical to deny D.C. a right that every other city and state in the country enjoys.
Under the terms of the referendum, if approved, Congress would still be able to weigh in on the validity and wisdom of the proposal; it would go to Congress for a 35-day review period during which time it could be overturned by a joint resolution of disapproval by the House and Senate, which would then need to be signed by the president. Despite the fact that they pay federal taxes, serve on juries and defend our Nation in times of war like most other Americans, the residents of the District of Columbia are barred from having voting representation on the floor of the U.S. House or Senate. This classic example of "taxation without representation" is contrary to everything that this nation is founded on. This means that more than half a million people, more than 57% of whom are African American (with Caucasians making up just over 30% of the population and 8.5% of the residents claiming Hispanic background), are paying money to and dying for a government in which they have no say. It also means that the federal government is receiving and spending $4 billion without having to account for it.
On Tuesday, April 23rd, D.C. voters approved this charter amendment that would allow the city government to spend local tax dollars without congressional approval. The amendment now goes to Congress, which must pass a disapproval resolution in order to stop it from taking effect.
DR. CARTER G. WOODSON
Dr. Carter G. Woodson was one of the earliest members of the NAACP Washington, DC Branch. Carter G. Woodson is known as the Founder of Black History Month. He is a noted African-American Historian, Author, Journalist and the Founder of the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History (ASALH).
Carter G. Woodson was born December 19, 1875, the son of former enslaved Africans, James and Eliza Riddle Woodson. His father helped Union soldiers during the Civil War, and he moved his family to West Virgnia when he heard that Huntington was building a high school for blacks. Coming from a large, poor family, Carter Woodson could not regularly attend school. Through self-instruction, Woodson mastered the fundamentals of common school subjects by age 17. Dr. Woodson attended the University of Chicago, where he was awarded an A.B. and A.M. in 1908. He was a member of the historically black fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He completed his Ph.D. in history at Harvard University in 1912, where he was the second African American to earn a doctorate. His doctoral dissertation,The Disruption of Virginia, was based on research he did at the Library of Congress while teaching high school in Washington, D.C. After earning the doctoral degree, he continued teaching in the public schools, later joining the faculty at Howard University as a professor, where he served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and helped charter the Howard University NAACP College Chapter.
THE CARTER G. WOODSON HOME
Dr. Woodson directed ASALH's operations from his home located at 1538 Ninth Street, NW, Washington, DC, from 1915 until his death in 1950, and ASALH was headquartered in the building until 1970. The house was the center for educating the nation's history and culture. Working out of this building, Dr.Woodson managed ASALH's of African Americans to the day-to-day operations, published periodicals (the Negro History Bulletin and the Journal of Negro History), operated a book publishing company (Associated Publishers), trained researchers and educators, and pursued his own research and writing about African American history.
Dr. Carter G. Woodson's home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976 for its national significance in African American cultural heritage. Now, as a result of legislation enacted in 2003, Dr.Woodson' s home will be established as a National Historic Site and visitor attraction operated by the U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service. Dr. Woodson's home is the 389th site in the National Park System, and it is one of the 19 sites expressly dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of African American history.
The Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site is currently competing for a grant to assist with the renovation of Dr. Carter G. Woodson home on 9th Street NW. However they need the assistance of everyone across the nation to win the competition. Go to website and vote for the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site. Voting is open April 24th through May 10, 2013.
LINK TO VOTE: http://partnersinpreservation.com
ACT-SO
ACT-SO is a yearlong enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students. The ACT-SO program centers around the dedication and commitment of community volunteers and business leaders to serve as mentors and coaches to promote academic and artistic excellence among African-American students. There are 26 categories of competition in the sciences, humanities, performing arts, visual arts and business.
ACT-SO APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE ON NAACP WEBSITE!!!
http://www.naacpdc.org/committees/act_so.htm
NAACP Climate Justice Committee Meeting
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
NAACP Financial Freedom Center
1816 12th Street, NW
Washington, DC
6:30pm
PLEASE RSVP to Wadi Muhammad, climate.naacpdc@gmail.com
NAACP DC Branch
Health Committee Meeting
NAACP Health Meeting Tuesday, May 21, 2013
NAACP Financial Freedom Center
1816 12th Street, NW
Washington, DC
7:00pm Contact Health Chair, Alicia Williams, MPH
health.naacpdc@gmail.com
The ABC's of Family Biking
Sunday, April 28, 2013
11:00a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
215 G Street, NE
Washington, DC
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT), the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) and Kidical Mass DC are pleased to announce the return of "The ABC's of Family Biking." This free event, which builds on the popularity of last year's successful debut, will celebrate the joy of biking with children and introduce local parents to the tools, skills and equipment that can help them start biking with their kids. This event will take place on Sunday, April 28, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Capitol Hill Montessori School.
"The ABC's of Family Biking" will offer: - An open forum to talk to area parents who bike with children of all ages
- Bicycles and equipment available at local bike shops to help parents bike safely with their children
- Free classes with WABA instructors to teach basic riding skills to children, including a special class on group riding skills for families that are interested in forming "biketrains" for children to ride to and from school in groups
- A performance of "Squirrels on Bikes," a new bike-themed puppet show by the Flying Fox Puppet Theater
- The opportunity for parents to "Swap or Sell" their gently used family biking equipment
- Free bike repair clinics from The Bike House
SPONSOR-A-YOUTH NAACP MEMBERSHIP
"4 Youth for $60"
The NAACP DC Branch has launched "Sponsor-A-Youth NAACP Membership" drive encouraging NAACP members to sponsor 4 youth or college students to join the NAACP. There are 6 college chapters and one youth council in Washington, DC. The NAACP supports the development of future leaders through actively involving youth between ages 10 and 25 in the fight for civil rights. The NAACP DC Branch works closely with the 7 NAACP Youth & College units in Washington, DC to foster and develop future leadership in the NAACP. NAACP Youth Memberships are $15, for youth between the ages 10 and 20. We are requesting you make a $60 donation to sponsor 4 NAACP youth memberships.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SPONSORING A YOUTH MEMBERSHIP, CONTACT THE NAACP OFFICE AT (202) 667-1700 OR YOUTH WORKS CHAIR, ASHLEY JACKSON AT YOUTHWORKS.NAACPDC@GMAIL.COM AND WE WILL SEND YOU A SPONSORSHIP PACKET.
There are 7 youth chapters in Washington, DC, including:
- Washington, DC Youth Council
- American University NAACP College Chapter
- Georgetown University NAACP College Chapter
- George Washington University (GWU) NAACP College Chapter
- Howard University NAACP College Chapter
- Trinity NAACP College Chapter
- University of the District of Columbia (UDC) NAACP Chapter
The Civil Rights Opera
Hosts...
THE MARCH: A Civil Rights Opera
"Prelude to a Dream: The Volatile Eve of the March on Washington"
August 27, 2013
THE MARCH is an opera about the 1963 March on Washington, which gives a voice on the operatic stage to the heroes of the civil rights movement. The opera portrays Roy Wilkins, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, John Lewis, Bayard Rustin, A. Philip Randolph, Whitney Young, Diane Nash, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Strom Thurmond. A mass meeting will be hosted to focus on the various local and national leaders of the March on Washington. The conclusion of the mass meeting will feature a preview of THE MARCH: A Civil Rights Opera.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.civilrightsopera.com
facebook.com/TheMarchCivilRightsOpera
twitter.com/TheMarchOpera
JUSTICE ROUNDTABLE QUARTERLY ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
10:00 - noon
Open Society Policy Center
1730 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 7th floor
Washington, DC
Call in number 1(800) 747-5150
Code 7220241#
This Justice Roundtable will discuss correctional education, gun control, Youth Promise Act and Juvenile Life Without Parole. This will feature Special Guest, Bobby Vassar, Chief Counsel to the Minority for the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism & Homeland Security. The work of the Justice Roundtable is carried out through issue-specific working groups which meet regularly, plan strategy, and implement initiatives. If you are interested in working with one or more of these groups, please contact Andrew Maisel (202- 721-5631) and you will be directed to the appropriate working group facilitator.
Please RSVP to be placed on the bldg. security list
Andrew.Maisel@opensocietyfoundations.org
Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Inc. (ASALH)
Hosts…
2013 MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR MENTORS AND NO-VIOLENCE
"TO SERVE THIS PRESENT AGE: FROM NONVIOLENCE TO NO VIOLENCE"
In Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of The Birmingham Children's Crusade of 1963
ASALH is recruiting 250 mentors to march with youth participants of the Pen or Pencil Movement in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the 1963 Birmingham Children's Crusade on May 3, 2013, from 4th and Jefferson Street, SW (directly in front of the capitol building) to the Lincoln Memorial.
FOR MORE INFORMATION,
PLEASE CONTACT:
Barbara Dunn
(301) 254-3137
bspencerdunn@yahoo.com
REENTRY AND EXPUNGEMENT SUMMIT
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place, NW
Washington, DC 20001
10am - 2pm
Registration is now open for the Ninth Annual Community Reentry and Expungement Summit, which will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place, N.W., Washington, DC 20001 from 10 am to 2 pm. The Summit will assist persons with criminal records by providing reentry support services and helping individuals determine if they are eligible to get their arrest or conviction record sealed or expunged.
In addition, there will be more than 50 community based service providers on-site to give returning residents, as well as their family members, substantive information relating to their employment, housing, education, and health care. Importantly, our goal is to offer D.C. residents the tools on "How to Succeed With a Criminal Record".
All services provided at the Summit will be free of charge!!
REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.PDSDC.ORG or BY PHONE AT 202-824-2835.
FOR MORE INFORMATION,
PLEASE CONTACT:
April Frazier-Camara, Esq.
Community Reentry Coordinator
Public Defender Service
680 Rhode Island Ave NE, Suite H-5
Washington, DC 20002
202-824-2815 (phone)
202-824-2915 (fax)
Shawn Carter (JAY-Z) Scholarship
Application Deadline: May 31, 2013
The Shawn Carter (Jay-Z) Scholarship Fund offers scholarship opportunities to any under-served student across the United States.
Eligibility Requirements:
Qualified applicants must be a high school senior, college student, and/or between the ages of 18-25, pursuing studies at a vocational or trade school. All applicants must be a US Citizen and complete the on-line application no later than the published deadline date, which is May 31, 2013. The Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation is unique in that it offers scholarships to single mothers, children who attend alternative schools, students who have earned a GED, students with grade point averages of 2.0 and students who have previously been incarcerated, etc. but desire a higher educational opportunity. This group is generally not the recipients of college scholarships and is typically ignored by the Board of Education.
The Shawn Carter Foundation offers scholarship opportunities to any under-served student across the United States who desires a higher education. One of the key questions asked by the Foundation when students apply for a scholarship is: What are your plans to give back to the community?
This scholarship is open to the public.
CLICK LINK TO APPLY TODAY! http://www.shawncartersf.com/apply/
Spring Job Fair
Thursday, May 2, 2013
10:00am - 2:00pm Activity Center in Bohrer Park
506 S Fredrick Avenue
Gaithersburg, MD
Arbor E&T Partners along with Montgomery County will host the 2nd Annual Spring Job Fair on Thursday, May 2nd from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Activity Center in Bohrer Park located at 506 S Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD. A number of companies will be participating including The Arts Institute of Washington, Department of Health and Human Services. For more information, please contact Arbor E&T at 301-562-8180.
AACR "Many Ethnicities, One America" Roundtable Conference
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
9:00am -2:30pm
Syracuse University's Washington, D.C. Headquarters
Paul Greenberg House
2301 Calvert Street, NW
Washington, DC
The Association of Americans for Civic Responsibility (AACR) hosts a roundtable conference focusing on a prescient issue that affects the American public, entitled "Many Ethnicities, One America", to take place on May 8, 2013. The Honorable Norman Y. Mineta, a former United States Cabinet Secretary will deliver the Keynote address. The conference will take place on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Syracuse University's Washington, D.C. headquarters, located at the Paul Greenberg House, 2301 Calvert Street, NW, Washington, D.C. The Association of Americans for Civic Responsibility (AACR) is an inclusive association that aims to educate and encourage individuals, institutions, organizations, and businesses to advance the commonweal through acts of civic responsibility. We maintain a non-partisan voice in order to successfully engage all peoples and groups from all sectors of life in the U.S.
You can learn more about AACR by visiting www.aacri.org.
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